Casola's Pizzeria Would-Be Robbers Attack Employee

MIAMI (CBS4) - Miami Police are still searching for two gunmen who tried to rob one of the most well-known pizza joints in Miami and during the process, beat up an employee and left him hospitalized.

According to Miami police, the two masked men stormed into the kitchen area of Casola's Pizza at 2437 S.W. 17th Ave. as employees prepared for closing time. As seen in surveillance video, one man enters the kitchen and points a gun at employee James McCabe. McCabe can be seen backing away but seconds later, the second man unleashes on McCabe and beats him to the ground while continuing to slam him in the head.

"He was just standing there. He was like ok. I'm not going to do anything. But they just beat him for no reason," said customer William Pope.

Pope saw the video on the evening news and was shocked.

"It's the last place you would expect to see a video like that for sure," said Pope.

The gunmen were in and out in 25 seconds. They left with absolutely nothing because the safe was behind a locked door. Casola's declined to comment on camera about the incident but said the man beaten in the video was hospitalized but is going to be okay.

Customers say, despite the crime, they'll be back.

"I'll be coming here for the rest of my life. I love this place," said customer Jorge Fernandez. "This is like a landmark. I used to come here when I was a teenager. Now I'm over 50 and I still coming here and I love it."

As for the gunmen, if anyone has information about them, please call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).