LINCOLN BLVD — Santa Monica police say a Subway sandwich artist was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night, the suspect firing off one round from a handgun as he was trying to open a cash register.
No one was injured, and the suspect fled to a waiting vehicle with the cash drawer, said Sgt. Richard Lewis, spokesman for the Santa Monica Police Department.
Police are still trying to determine how much cash was stolen.
The shooter was identified as a black male, aged 30 to 40, 5 feet 6 inches, to 5 feet 8 inches tall, short black hair and a dark complexion. He was wearing a dark baseball hat, dark long-sleeve shirt and dark shorts, Lewis said.
The driver of the getaway car was a Hispanic male with short hair and a medium complexion. The car was described to police as a newer dark sedan.
Police said around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday the shooter walked into the Subway, located in a strip mall on the 1800 block of Lincoln Boulevard, and asked to purchase a cookie.
After handing the Subway employee some money, the suspect removed a handgun and demanded cash from the register. The employee had trouble opening the register, at which time he reached over the counter and began to open the drawer himself, Lewis said.
As he struggled with the register, he fired one round into the wall behind the counter.
A manager at the Subway said the employee was fine and the damage minimal. He could not provide an estimate on how much money was missing. He said the eatery opened for breakfast at its regular time Wednesday morning.
Police are asking for the public’s help in locating the suspects. Anyone with information is urged to contact the SMPD at (310) 458-8491.
kevinh@www.smdp.com
