MANATEE - A barbecue restaurant near Interstate 75 was robbed by two masked gunmen late Sunday, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
No one was injured in the robbery at Sonny's BBQ, 631, 67th St. Circle E., but three employees were forced into a cooler as the suspects made their getaway.
About 10:45 p.m., an employee was taking out the trash when he saw the suspects approaching. One of the suspects asked if the restaurant was still open, but the employee immediately became suspicious because the two people had their faces covered, according to a news release.
The employee ran back inside and tried to close the door, but one of the suspects was able to get a hand in and force it open.
The employee and a co-worker, who as cleaning the floor inside, were forced into a back room and ordered to lie on the ground.
One of the suspects then went to an office and ordered the manager to open the safe and then lie on the ground.
The suspects took the cash out of the safe, ordered the three employees into a cooler and then fled out a back door, with approximately $5,900, according to the sheriff's office.
One of the suspects, a heavy-set man, was wearing a gray hoodie and bandana and carrying a semi-automatic handgun. The second suspect, possibly a slender woman, was wearing a dark blue hoodie and bandana and dark-colored pants and carrying a semi-automatic handgun.
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