Raleigh, N.C. — Police were investigating whether a string of armed robberies that occurred in and near downtown overnight Saturday were connected.

The robberies targeted three pedestrians, a grocery store and a man at an automated-teller machine in a little more than seven hours.

Victims reported a man confronted them in two of the robberies and that two men were involved in the two other robberies. Police said a gun was used in each robbery.

Stephen Emmons said his friend's birthday party was a night to remember, but for all the wrong reasons. Emmons left a downtown bar and was getting into his car in a parking lot at Dawson and Davie streets around 4 a.m. Sunday.

"A guy in a black-hooded sweatshirt came around the corner, pretty much stuck a gun in my face and told me to empty out my pockets," Emmons said.

Emmons remembered the robber saying that he had a little girl at home to feed.

"You got to do what you go to do, I guess, for your little girl, but there's better ways to do that," Emmons said.

Another man gave police a similar description of a gunman who confronted him in the 200 block of Hillsborough Street around 10:15 p.m. The gunman demanded money and fled on foot.

The victims described the robber as a skinny black man with a light complexion, standing about 5 feet 2 inches tall.

Two gunmen were reportedly involved in the armed robbery at the Econo Food Mart, 3801 Western Blvd., around 10:30 p.m. and also of an individual at a CashPoints ATM at 1524 Wake Forest Road around 5:30 a.m.

In both cases, the robbers threatened their victims, brandished handguns and demanded money. The robbers fled from Econo Mart in a vehicle and on foot from the CashPoints ATM.

"I guess if that's the way somebody's going to do it, they're going to do it all at once, instead of everyday in the same spot," Emmons said.