Bradenton laundromat scene of wild shootout with armed robbers, cops say

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a pair of armed robbers who turned the scene at a local laundry business into a Wild West-style shootout on Sunday.

Employees at AAA Laundry & Dry Cleaning, 1411 57th Ave. W., declined to speak about the incident, but according to sheriff’s office incident report, nearby deputies heard the shots ring out and while en route to the laundromat received the dispatch call regarding an armed robbery.

Upon arrival, an employee flagged down the deputies and said while he was at the register, a masked man entered and pointed a rifle at him, ordering him and the patrons to the ground, according to the report, which does not state the time of the robbery.

A second masked suspect entered the business holding a handgun and while the employee and customers were held at gunpoint, began taking cash from the register and then went to the back of the business looking for more cash, deputies say.

The two suspects left the business and the employee followed them out to see which direction they were going and to get a possible description of their vehicle, the report states.

At that time, one of the suspects turned and pointed the rifle at the employee, who had by then armed himself, deputies say. The employee fired five shots at the suspects. The suspects fired two shots back at the employee, according to the sheriff’s office.

According to the report, the two suspects entered a “two-door, light-colored, hatch-back vehicle” and drove away from the area.

Deputies say there have been no reported injuries related to the shootout and that the thieves made off with more than $4,000.

Sheriff’s spokesman Randy Warren said there have been no arrests made related to the case and the investigation is ongoing.