The search is on for four armed robbers in Volusia County who had the tables turned on them by a fast-acting clerk.

It happened around 2:30 a.m. Friday at the Sunoco gas station, located at 300 N. Ridgewood Ave. off Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard.

Deputies said three armed suspects entered the store with T-shirts wrapped around their faces. A fourth suspect was waiting for them in a getaway car.

They approached the owner and a clerk, who were stocking store shelves at the time.

One of the suspects put a gun to the owner's chest, forcing him behind the counter.

The robbers then stole approximately $450 in cash and cigars.

As they drove away, a clerk ran out and fired approximately eight shots at the suspects' silver Nissan Rogue.

The clerk and owner said the SUV was full of bullet holes and believe at least one of the rounds may have hit one of the robbers.

The owner said he feared for his life. We spoke with him a few hours after the robbery and he said his emotions have gone from fear to anger.

"I've been working since 9 in the morning and 2:30 in the morning the next day. I'm here and somebody like this going to come and rob me? It's...I mean, I'm not going to accept it."

He nearly pulled out a gun of his own during the robbery, but then thought better of it. "I tried to reach for my gun twice but when I see three guns in my face, I decided to stop. Because I know I'm not going to be able to get the three of them."

The brazeness of the three men on camera concerns local police. Investigator Jimmie Flynt said, "they only got a couple hundred dollars so they may attempt to do this again so we need to try to find who these people are."

As for any possible charges against the clerk who shot at the fleeing SUV, Flynt said they're focused now on catching the robbers. Investigators want to collect all the facts before making that decision. He warns against anyone making such a move during a robbery like this because a person may not always hit what they're aiming at and innocent bystanders could be hurt or even killed.

The shot gun-wielding suspect was last seen wearing a long-sleeved shirt, black gloves and camoflage pants. The second suspect wore a long-sleeved white shirt with a black mask, black gloves and black pants. Police said the third suspect was wearing a red shirt with black long sleeves, a black mask and black pants.

If you have any information in this case, call Daytona Beach police at (386) 671-5100 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at (888) 277-TIPS (8477).

