The Gastonia Police Department is currently seeking the public's help to identify a suspect involved in an armed robbery that targeted a local Pizza Hut on October 7th. According to WBTV, the suspect entered the Pizza Hut on South New Hope Road shortly before midnight, clad in a distinctive black and red True Religion hoodie, black pants, and sporting red shoes.
After initially using the bathroom, presumably to case the joint, the man emerged to threaten an employee with a gun and proceed to raid at least $300 from the cash register. Surveillance footage captured during the incident also showed the man pausing to ostensibly help himself to a drink from the cooler. WCCB Charlotte noted that the footage from the robbery has been made available for the public to view, in hopes that it will aid in identifying the perpetrator.
Further details provided by QC News indicate that the suspect had first visited the Pizza Hut location around 11 p.m., using the bathroom to likely scout the premises before returning 45 minutes later with a rifle to commit the robbery. Alongside the cash, the suspect has been reported to also have taken some food and a drink from the establishment.
Gastonia Police are actively encouraging anyone with any information about the suspect or the incident to immediately come forward. Informants can anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 704-861-9000 or directly reach out to a GPD detective at 704-866-6702.
