A pair of baristas at a South Sound coffee stand are still shaken after they say a man held them up at gunpoint twice in the last three days.
The robberies happened at Café Elite at the corner of South 19th Street and 65th Avenue West in Tacoma.
A KIRO 7 crew saw the video on Monday thanks to help from a store manager who said she was the victim in the second armed robbery at 1:30 p.m. Monday, August 27. The brazen broad-daylight robbery was caught on camera as was a very similar incident Saturday night that involved a different barista.
Hannah, the manager of Cafe Elite who wanted to use only her first name, says she was still shaken hours after the hold-up Monday.
“I was shaking like crazy," she said. "I just asked my customer to call the cops. I hopped on the phone and called the cops. ... I started crying.”
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- Eerie things going on at serial killer's childhood home in Tacoma
- Map with real-time air quality conditions for Washington state cities
- John McCain, US senator, war hero, maverick, has died at 81
- Woman says she was fired over pregnancy
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
Hannah walked a KIRO 7 crew through the moment when she came face to face with the man pointing a gun at her. She said she wants the world to see the video and the suspect.
It shows the hooded suspect coming to the window Monday afternoon. He pointed a gun inside. Hannah said he eventually got cash: "It's daylight and he's that bold.”
In the Saturday incident, a suspect is seen shortly after 9 p.m. walking from the parking lot to the window. He appears to have a gun. In that case, it is clear what the suspect is wearing, and he did not try to cover his face.
A different barista was held up Saturday. Her description of the suspect matches the man seen Monday. Police also believe it could be the same person hitting the shop twice within three days.
Authorities think it is the same person because he ran from the coffee shop across South 19th Street toward Tacoma Community -- the same direction in both crimes.
A witness said the suspect may have gotten away in a silver BMW.
Hannah said she wants to raise awareness so the suspect is caught.
"It's just scary. He's traumatizing us all and nobody feels safe working.”
Investigators are hoping others may have seen something Monday or Saturday and will call Fircrest Police.
More news from KIRO 7
- Eerie things going on at serial killer's childhood home in Tacoma
- Map with real-time air quality conditions for Washington state cities
- John McCain, US senator, war hero, maverick, has died at 81
- Woman says she was fired over pregnancy
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/IPIXRAQD4KXZGRHJ52HJAS7CAE.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/QV3VOQCJMNE5JC7IH22Z3W6SCY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/R6RG2PCB2ZHJ3L3E6UDSUL2Z5U.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MBUED6EISFAQTPZSAEOQ2WO5MQ.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/O2XYYTZMDRCDVG7FRQMTL2QSO4.jpg)