Columbia police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Thursday at about 10:15 p.m. at Red Roof Liquor & Lottery, 301 Southport Drive. No one was injured and the suspect, described by police as a white male wearing all black and a black ski mask, escaped with an undetermined amount of cash.

“The male pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded the clerk give him all the money,” Columbia Police Chief Joe Edward stated in a press release issued Friday afternoon.

Columbia police were assisted by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and Waterloo, Cahokia and St. Louis County police departments in searching for the suspect. Illinois State Police processed the crime scene as part of an ongoing investigation. Officers searched on foot and by helicopter for the suspect but were unable to locate him.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Columbia police at 281-5151.

The suspect reportedly fits a similar description from a robbery that occurred last Thursday night at Select Fuel (formerly Cowell’s) off Route 3 near Red Bud.

And below are links to news accounts of recent armed robberies committed this week just across the river in Jefferson County, Mo., each with similar suspect descriptions as the ones that occurred Nov. 6 north of Red Bud and Thursday night in Columbia:

http://www.kmov.com/news/crime/Surveillance-photos-capture-Festus-armed-robbery-282608611.html

http://www.myleaderpaper.com/news/police_fire/article_5c756804-69db-11e4-840f-03cec90c84e7.html

For our article on last week’s armed robbery near Red Bud, click here.