NYPD: Queens Liquor Store Robbed At Gunpoint By 4 Men
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are on the hunt for four men who allegedly knocked over a liquor store at gunpoint in Queens earlier this week.
The robbery happened inside Bob's Discount Liquors on the corner of Lefferts Boulevard and 115th Avenue in South Ozone Park at around 10:30 p.m. on Monday. Police said the masked suspects stormed the store, one of them with a gun, CBS2's Kiran Dhillon reported Wednesday.
Surveillance video obtained exclusively by CBS2 shows the moment a 19-year-old employee had a firearm pulled on him. He is seen putting his hands up and being backed into a corner. The suspects then go behind the counter and snatch what police said was around $700 worth of liquor before forcing the employee to open the register. They made off with $100 cash before fleeing.
Store employees told Dhillon there were no customers inside at the time of the robbery. The other employee in the store said he was stocking shelves when the suspects ran in. He was so scared and startled he rushed downstairs to get to safety.
The store owner and employees were horrified to speak on camera on Wednesday.
People who work in the area told Dhillon they're shocked by what happened. Rita Mootoo mans the counter at Liberty Wholesale Beverage across the street.
"It's very scary because we're right around the neighborhood, so that could even happen to us," Mootoo said. "It's a very quiet neighborhood. Like nothing much really went on."
Gurjant Singh, who works at a nearby deli, agreed.
"It's crazy. It's crazy. I've never seen before something like this," Singh said.
The store employee was not injured as a result of the robbery. However, Mootoo said the terrifying episode has left her on edge. She said she'll be asking her boss to step up security.
"I'm here alone also, so maybe he'll get someone with me," Mootoo said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74682), logging onto the Crime stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.
