Florence police are hoping a sketch of the man who shot and robbed the manager of a local convenience store last week will help identify the suspect.

Detective Cliff Billingsley said that after working with the victim, department officials developed a drawing of the suspect.

"We're still getting information in about the robbery, and we've been running down everything we get, but there is nothing concrete so far," Billingsley said.

Billingsley said that according to the victim, the suspect is a medium-complected black man, 6 feet tall with a thin build. He was wearing a shiny red jacket with a hood and a gray bandanna across his forehead under the hood. He was wearing jeans and white athletic shoes.

Ralph Crook, 37, of Florence, manager of Kangaroo Express on Cox Creek Parkway, was shot multiple times during the May 8 robbery that took place in front of the store as he was leaving to make a bank deposit.

Investigators said Crook underwent surgery at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. He has since been released and is improving, officials said.

Billingsley said Crook told authorities that the robber walked up with the gun displayed and "then the victim tried to make a defensive move and got shot."

Lt. Randy England said that after the shooting, the robber grabbed the money and ran off.

Authorities said the robber ran toward Creekwood subdivision where witnesses say he got into a car with another man.

Billingsley said the car was dark blue with a faded top.

"It was a four-door sedan similar to a GMC product," Billingsley said. "We believe it had a specialized tag, either a handicapped or helping schools tag."

Witnesses said the driver of the vehicle was described as a heavy set black man, in his mid to late 30s, weighing more than 200 pounds and having a large round face.

England said the department has been using all its resources and has worked closely with other area agencies in trying to develop leads to determine the identities of the individuals involved in the incident.

"We've just got to keep running down the leads and hope one will turn out," he said.

Authorities ask that anyone seeing the vehicle or knowing anything about the robbery to call the Florence police at 768-2728 or Shoals Area CrimeStoppers at 386-8685.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.