Police looking for masked gunman in Columbia restaurant robbery

A masked man robbed a Columbia restaurant at gun point, and fired the gun.

Around 8:00 p.m. Friday the man, reportedly wearing a white Halloween mask, hit Curries Indian cuisine, which is connected to the Eastwood Motel on Business Loop 70.

The man then fled.

The motel clerk said the man two or three shots after he aggressively tried to take money from her husband at Curries.

She described the man as a tall black man with noticeably large feet.

She said he walked into the restaurant in a mask, demanding money, and showed his gun.

Saturday, police described the suspect as 5’4” and about 150 pounds wearing a Halloween mask and dark clothing.

The clerk working at the time said he refused to give the suspect money and picked up two butcher knives. That’s when the clerk tells us one shot was fired. No one was hit, we’re told the bullet hit the sink in the kitchen.

The clerk said the suspect then took about $80 to $90 and ran off.

BJ Bhakta, Curries Authentic Indian Cuisine: “He said ‘come here’ and ‘get the money, get the money’ like 10-15 times. And I said ‘hey what.’ That’s why I said I got the knives. But he went ‘pop’ one short time it fired. And the bullet went to the sink behind me.”

Police are asking for anyone with information about this armed robbery to call them or call Crime Stoppers at 875-TIPS to remain anonymous.