Daytime Showmars robbery on East Blvd.

Published Feb. 22, 2011 at 2:17 p.m.
It was a bold robbery -- pulled off in broad daylight, in a heavily traveled part of Charlotte.

Now Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are trying to find the men who took money and assaulted the manager of a Showmars restaurant Sunday afternoon on East Boulevard near the Dilworth area.

The robbery was reported about 4 p.m. at the Showmars, in the 1600 block of East Boulevard, at Cumberland Avenue.

According to police, three suspects entered the restaurant, about an hour after it had closed for the day. Two men had knives and the third had a gun, police say.

"So he was back in the manager's office, preparing the deposit, when the suspects came in through a front patio door, robbed him, and also assaulted him," police Sgt. R.W. Wilson said.

Police say the manager tried to fight back and suffered a knife wound.

Neighbors and customers said they were surprised by the hold-up, especially considering the time it occurred.

"This is a very busy street," customer Chris Jackson said. "You have people running, you have a large amount of business here. Just really surprised that it happened during the daytime."

Police say they have only sketchy descriptions of the suspects.

Darren Beam and Holly Disser said they frequent the area often and are worried because the suspects remain at-large.

"I think this neighborhood is pretty safe and friendly, so it worried me a little bit," Beam said.

"This is a pretty safe neighborhood, and I feel safe walking around here at night," Disser said. "I guess it's just surprising."

Police say there was no surveillance video, and they were not able to get a description of the suspects, who were wearing ski masks. There also is no description of the getaway car.

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