NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – New Orleans police are looking for two attackers who robbed customers and took cash from the register of a local hot spot. It happened Monday night at Buffa’s Bar and Restaurant.
WGNO News Reporter Darian Trotter has details and reaction from employees who are still recovering from the emotional trauma.
It’s business as usual at Buffa’s Bar and Restaurant.
Both customers and employees are recovering from a scare they won’t soon forget.
“It’s shocking; I’m a little distraught still,” server Mia Martinez said.
It happened around 10 o’clock Monday night in the 1000 block of Esplanade Avenue.
Security cameras mounted at the New Orleans hot spot captured two masked men rush in waving a gun demanding money or else.
“Pretty disturbing to watch for me,” co-owner Jarret Rogers said.
Rogers has reviewed the footage. He says the robbers were in and out in less than 40-seconds.
“It makes me think they had this planned. Maybe they’ve done it before, but they know how to get in and out with as little incident has possible,” Rogers said. “There’s the first guy right there. He has the gun shoved against Arden.”
“There was one customer that had a gun directly to the back of his head and of course they were waving around the gun. I think the bartender had the gun pressed against his stomach as he was being forced behind the bar.”
He says a couple of customers were robbed and the bad guys emptied the cash register.
“I didn’t know if they were going to come back here. We had a full service room. We were full,” Martinez said.
Long-time customers are back; bringing their business, their support, and concern about what happened.
“This kind of think is inexcusable and it’s not about the money. It’s about the lives that were threatened in the process,” Rogers said.
“You know, I was a little scared. We all keep talking about it. Everyone’s asked questions about it but. I think we’re going to be alright,” Martinez said.
Police are asking anyone with information into the case to call Crimestoppers (504) 822-1111.
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