LAKE CITY, Fla. -- Police say Derick J. Lee, 24, is the suspect in two brazen armed robberies that happened Friday evening in Lake City.
According to the Lake City Police Department, 15 women were participating in a Premiere Jewelry home party at a residence off SW Lakeview Avenue when a man, later identified as Derick Lee, pointed a handgun at the women and began yelling “give me your money and your phones.”
One of the party members thought Lee’s actions were part of practical joke.
Police say Lee then yelled at them all saying, “I’m not joking! I’m going to shoot someone! Give me your money!” and placed the gun to the victim’s left temple and then several other women. At this point, Mrs. Hagler stood up and shouted, “Get out of my house in the name of Jesus!” Then the other women in the home began to shout the name “Jesus."
K-9 officers responded to the scene but did not find the suspect.
According to a news release, Lee was eventually arrested at the scene of another robbery attempt in Lake City.
Lee was positively identified through the use of a photo lineup, according to officers.
Lee was booked into the Columbia County Detention Center on a $200,000 bond for Home Invasion Robbery.
The investigation is ongoing in both cases.