MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two employees were robbed and carjacked Monday morning at the opening of One and Only Grill in Cordova, according to Memphis police.
Police said they responded to the scene in the 100 block of Timber Creek Drive at 6:15 a.m. Police encountered a male victim who said he and a colleague arrived at the restaurant around 6am and were ambushed by a man.
The owner of the business said his employees usually show up four hours early to prepare for the work day.
The victims said the suspect forced them into the building and said, “I’ve been watching you for a while.” Police said the suspect then forced the man to open the office door to gain access to the safe.
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The man told authorities the suspect pointed a gun at the co-worker’s head and said he was going to kill her.
Inside the company, an employee said the suspect put a gun to a co-worker’s head and said he would kill her unless they opened the company safely. They then opened the safe and the suspects took an undisclosed amount of money, which the store owner said was insufficient to file an insurance claim.
The victim told police he was able to track his vehicle and later located it at “The View” apartment complex.
WREG spoke with the owner of One and Only BBQ, who is thankful no one was hurt.
“I checked in with both of them this morning and told them how sorry I was for what they had to go through and thanked them for everything they have done for our company,” One & Only BBQ owner Alan Katzen said.
Katznen, a 72-year-old former East High School graduate, has built One and Only Barbecue into a city staple for 17 years. He said his three stores have experienced two break-ins and two armed robberies over the years, but he advises all businesses in Memphis to focus on what’s important.
“Teaching your crew to do whatever they’re asked to do, money isn’t as important as people getting hurt or losing their lives, that’s what’s really important,” Katzen said.
“I just want to commend everyone for their efforts to help us and I believe they will arrest this guy within 24 or 48 hours. I really believe something good is going to happen here and someone is not going to get away with it,” Katzen said.
At this time, no suspect information has been released. This story will be updated once we learn more from MPD.
If you have any information, please call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.
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