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Silent Witness: Metro PCS robber puts gun to head of employee

Posted at 11:02 AM, May 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-22 15:12:36-04

Silent Witness is asking for the public's help in identifying a robber who put his gun to the head of a Metro PCS employee in north Phoenix. 

Authorities say on May 13 just before 9:30 a.m. the suspect, described as a Hispanic man, entered the Metro PCS near 32nd Street and Greenway Road. 

The suspect reportedly forced both of the store's employees into the back room at gunpoint. He then ordered them to get on the ground while pointing the gun at their heads. 

One of the victims, who only wants to be identified by ABC15 only as Elizabeth, says the suspect ordered them to lay on their stomachs.

"I just remember my co-worker, she was hugging me the whole time," she said.

They were trapped, face down, while the hooded robber towered over them.

"He was either going to abuse us, rape us or shoot us," Elizabeth said. "It was the worst part."

On Sunday, Elizabeth saw the surveillance footage for the first time. 

"I know exactly what I felt," Elizabeth said. "I know exactly how it happened, but it's still kind of blurry, you know? Everything just happens in the moment." 

Elizabeth explained that the man would yell commands at them and demanded that they stay looking at the ground.

"He had asked my co-worker if she saw his face — that was his biggest thing," she said. "'Do not look at my face.' That's when he pointed the gun at her she's like 'No, no! I didn't see your face.'"

The suspect took cash from the register and told the employees to crawl to the back of the store as he left the store. He was last seen running south on 33rd Place from Greenway Road. 

Elizabeth's co-workers are also traumatized by the incident — especially Patrick Henriquez who said the surveillance footage made him sick and angry.

"If he was robbing the store he could have just let them go," Henriquez said. "But he chose to keep them as prisoners, per say."

The suspect is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with acne on his face and a possible ponytail stuffed into his hooded sweatshirt. 

If you have any information on the identity of this man or this incident you are urged to call 480-WITNESS.