Police: Bradenton store owner tackles would-be armed robber

BRADENTON -- The owner of a convenience store tackled a would-be robber armed with a BB gun Saturday night, holding her down until law enforcement arrived, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

Keyona McKinley, 24, entered the Cummings Mini Mart at 720 Martin Luther King Ave. E. in Bradenton at 9:35 p.m., according to an arrest warrant. She was wearing dark clothing and a black bandana to cover her face and holding a firearm at her waistband.

She immediately confronted the store owner and said, "Give it up," police said. The owner saw the firearm and tackled her, getting the gun away from her, and the victim's wife called law enforcement.

Police identified the firearm as a BB-gun and also found a silver two-door Pontiac parked and left running just west of the convenience store with McKinley's wallet and cell phone inside, according to the report.

Police said McKinley was also identified as a suspect in another armed robbery handled by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office last week. McKinley was caught on video wearing the same disguise and holding the same firearm at her waistband as she entered a Quik Mart at 5913 53rd Ave. E. on Jan. 12. She demanded money from the employees, who gave her $3,603 from the register, according to a report.

McKinley told officers, "she has no fear of death and she would be OK with the store owner shooting her," according to the report.

McKinley was arrested and charged with two counts of armed robbery, four counts of violating probation and displaying a firearm during a robbery. She was previously charged with armed robbery in 2011. She is being held in the Manatee County jail without bond.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 8:45 AM with the headline "Police: Bradenton store owner tackles would-be armed robber ."