Gunman Opens Fire, Holds Customers At Gunpoint During Brooklyn Bodega Robbery
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- People inside one Brooklyn bodega were subjected to terrifying moments this weekend when an armed thief opened fire.
As CBS2's Dick Brennan reported, some of the people inside were held at gunpoint, while others were left to run for their lives as they dodged bullets. The store owner had to throw money at the suspect.
The robbery all played out on camera.
The gunman was seen in the gray hood in surveillance video. He appeared to be waiting to buy something at Giselle's Grocery on East New York Avenue in Brownsville.
The suspect walked into the store on Saturday night. But suddenly, he pulled out a gun and waved it around as the bodega cat darted away for cover. He then grabbed a customer around the neck.
The store's owner, Fermin Leonardo, was behind the counter – armed only with a stick.
"I was scared of my life, because, you know, I think he was going jump the counter," Leonardo said.
The gunman fired one shot in Leonardo's direction. Fortunately, it only hit a carton of Colgate toothpaste.
The gunman then released the customer, who dropped to the ground. Leonardo said the gunman then began screaming at him.
"He was saying, 'Give me the bread, give me the bread,'" Leonardo said. "You know, like, I didn't want to show him my body."
Leonardo said he was hiding in the corner behind the counter, terrified that he might get shot, but he then started to throw the money at the gunman.
Incredibly, the robber took his time picking up the cash off the floor.
"He just grabbed the money and put in his pocket, like you see on the video," Leonardo said.
Police only have a limited description of the gunman. They said he is a black male with a salt-and-pepper colored beard.
Leonardo said he has been robbed before, and hopes he will be better prepared next time.
"Bulletproof window -- I think I'm going to do that, you know, for the future," he said.
Police said nobody was injured in the incident. Anyone who might have seen the man in the video was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS or (888) 57-PISTA for Spanish, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
