CORDELE — According to reports from the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office a suspect wanted for multiple robberies in the city was killed in a shootout with authorities in Florida.

Sheriff Billy Hancock received information that on December 23, 2015 authorities in Brooksville, Florida responded to a frantic 911 call from an employee at the Dollar General in Ridge Manor West. The employee informed law enforcement that two suspects had robbed the store at gunpoint. A pursuit ensued between the authorities and the two suspects. One was apprehended and taken into custody without incident. The second suspect, identified as 29-year old Michael Hilber, was shot and killed by law enforcement.

Subway and O’Reilly Auto Parts of Cordele were robbed on December 19 and 20 respectively. Captain Denise Youngblood, Chief Investigator for the CCSO received information from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement regarding armed robberies of Subway and Dollar General Stores in Hernando County, Florida.

On Christmas Eve, following up on the information Youngblood received, Sheriff Billy Hancock worked in conjunction with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. Florida authorities shared information, pertaining to their robberies in comparison to the robberies in Cordele. There were similarities of the robberies that were significant enough that Sheriff Hancock spent Christmas Day comparing surveillance video obtained from those crimes.

Sheriff Hancock confidently announces that Hilber, was in fact the armed robber involved in the robberies of Subway and O’Reilly’s here. The investigation continued by Captain Denise Youngblood who was able to obtain positive identification of the individual by both victims.

Additionally, Detective Ketorie Sales with the Cordele Police Department confirms the vehicle and clothing items recovered by Hernando County Sheriff’s Office matches the description provided at the time of the incident.