Sumter County (WLTX) - Sumter deputies are looking for three men who robbed a Kentucky Fried Chicken at gunpoint Sunday afternoon. The KFC is across from Shaw Air Force Base on the Broad Street Extension.
According to investigators, it may be their second robbery and they're trying to make sure more don't happen. Both robberies involved customer and employees being herded into the walk-in cooler and told not to move. While no one was injured in the most recent robbery, the bold nature of has investigators working hard to find out who's responsible. "It's gotta be someone that really has no regard for the law, any regard for human nature," says Major Hampton Gardner. Gardner has been with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office for almost 26 years, and even this law enforcement veteran was suprised by the robbery. "I just can't recall anything of that nature happening here in Sumter recently at all," he says, "Apparently went in and robbed the establishment. The patrons that were there, they actually made them take everything out of their pockets and their belongings, put everything in a plastic bag and forced everyone that was inside the establishment into a refrigerated cooler." Unfortunately, no one there was able to get a good look at the men behind the guns who came into the restaurant at about two o'clock Sunday afternoon. "Ski masks were worn, dark clothing and of course, the weapons stood out to them," says Gardner of what the robbery victims reported seeing. Deputies believe it's not the first time they've hit. On October 25th, also a Sunday, a similar incident happened in Winnsboro at a KFC just before noon. "Again, it appears that the place was robbed and the persons that were there were placed inside the cooler,"Gardner says. Investigators don't think the men are from Sumter, cut are taking steps to ensure it doesn't happen again and talking about what to do if it does. "Try to pay attentions to everyone that walks in and out of the establishment, listen to their tones of voices, things of that nature," Gardner explains, "It's just a terrible thing, very terrible." News19 spoke with the owner of the Sumter KFC by phone. He said they're glad that everyone did what they were asked and of course that everyone stayed safe. If you have information that might help police find those responsible, contact Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC, or e-mail a tip in to www.midlandscrimestoppers.com. You can also text information in by texting "TIPSC" plus your message to CRIMES (274637). Either way you choose, your identity will remain anonymous, and you could be eligible for a cash reward.
11/2/2009 11:47:08 PM
