Man Robs Bronx Deli At Gunpoint With Accomplice As Lookout, Police Say
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD is searching for two suspects they say robbed a Bronx deli at gunpoint on Tuesday night.
According to police, one of the suspects pulled a firearm on a 45-year-old employee at the Zubaidi Grocery Store on 174th Street in Claremont and demanded cash.
Another suspect stood outside as a "lookout" while the robbery took place at around 10 p.m., police said.
The thieves took a few hundred dollars from the employee before fleeing the scene.
"Some guy just came and jumped in front of the register, 'Give me all the money, give me the money, give me the money.' And then after that, he put the gun to my uncle's face, and he just gave him the money," Saqr Saleem, the victim's nephew and who also works at the deli, said.
"I was scared I had nothing to do -- I was shaken, I couldn't do nothing," he continued. "I was shocked this was my first time seeing this my whole life."
Saleen is a freshman at college studying business, with dreams of one day running the deli, CBS2's Raegan Medgie reported.
"Money doesn't matter, as long as you're fine," Saleem said. "Whatever it is, if it's a gun situation, robbery...they can have everything."
"I'm not scared to come. I'm going to come and work, go to college, save money, do what I have to do," he added.
The robbery infuriates resident Martha Rosado, who comes to the deli every morning for coffee.
"I've very sad because they work so hard for their money, you know, so hard these people, they work 24/7," Rosado said. "They just gotta get these guys off the street. They got to stop these guns, they gotta get them off the streets."
"It's shocking that someone would take the time to come and do something like that," another resident, Larmont Edmonson, said.
Saleem says his uncle is shaken and is taking some time off from coming to work at this location, choosing instead to work at his other store.
No injuries were reported.
The NYPD is asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 577-TIPS, logging on to the Crime Stoppers website or texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577. Tips can remain anonymous.