KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Police are investigating two overnight armed robberies in West Knoxville early that may be connected. The suspect is still on the loose.

Around 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, the Weigel's at 600 Ebenezer Road was robbed. The Knox County Sheriff's Office says a man held up the store clerk with a semi-automatic gun and took cash from the register.
The is black and was wearing white ski gloves, white tennis shoes and a black toboggan.

About six hours later, the Sheriff's Office says a black male accosted two employees outside of the Pilot at the corner of Middlebrook Pike and Joe Hinton Rd. The suspect showed them a semi-automatic gun and ordered the employees to go back into the store, and demanded cash and cigarettes. He fled on foot, but other witnesses saw him get into a dark blue Ford Escort with the right taillight out.

Police say, this time, the suspect was wearing blue latex gloves, a blue bandanna over his face, a black bucket hat with a ponytail, mirrored sunglasses, and gray and white velcro shoes.

If you have any information about these robberies, you are asked to call the Knox County Sheriff's Office at 215-2243.