Suspect Jose Francisco Rivera accused of stabbing victim during robbery, held without bond

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) detective has arrested a man in connection with a robbery involving a firearm or other deadly weapon, authorities said Monday.

Jose Francisco Rivera, 57, was taken into custody by MCSO Major Crimes Detective Karla Santana-Palau on Feb. 3, 2025, following an investigation into a December robbery, according to a sheriff’s office statement.

The incident occurred on Dec. 9, 2024, at the Quick King convenience store on 6701 SW Highway 200 in Ocala. Responding deputies found the victim with makeshift bandages wrapped around his hand. The victim told authorities that a man had robbed and stabbed him before fleeing the scene. Marion County Fire Rescue transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment, officials said.

Detective Santana-Palau obtained a photograph of the suspect’s vehicle and launched an effort to identify the owner. Investigators later located the vehicle parked at a warehouse on the 2400 block of SW 5th Street. Deputies approached and found Rivera sitting in the driver’s seat. Rivera matched the suspect’s description, and a search revealed a knife that matched the one described by the victim, authorities said.

Rivera was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he is being held without bond.