NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - An employee grabbed a knife to scare off a would-be robber on July 11.
Newport News Police said at 11:30 p.m., an unknown man entered and attempted to rob the Crown Fried Chicken, located at Jefferson Ave.
Now they want the public's help finding the suspect, who was wearing a black mask and all black clothing while he demanded cash.
"I talked to him just like normal, like he was a customer," said employee Abdul Qahir.
With a gun just inches from his face, Qahir refused to hand over any money.
"I closed the register and I said, 'I'm not going give you a single penny. If you want it come get it'," said Qahir.
He even warned the suspect that police were called.
Qahir grabbed a knife from the back of the restaurant and waved it at the suspect. When the suspect saw the weapon, he fled the business towards Harpersville Road.
He said he worked as an interpreter for the Army in Afghanistan for several years and saw much worse.
His boss, Tariq Shah, appreciated him protecting the register, but never wants anyone to get hurt.
The suspect was described as a black male with a medium complexion, early to mid-20’s, about six feet tall with a skinny build.
"Luckily, nobody was hurt and nobody was injured, so that's the good part," said Shah .
Law enforcement said they encourage people to comply if they are being held up by a person with a gun.
If you know anything about this attempted robbery from business call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887). Remember, Crime Line callers may remain totally anonymous, are never required to testify in court and could be eligible for a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest.
