It was nearly wiped out by a fire last month but today it was armed men who hit MJ's Bar and Pool on West Collet Canal. This afternoon around 2 pm, two young men armed with small handguns entered the bar and held up two customers and then raided the cash register. Nelda Velasquez was behind the bar. She says she had no choice but to hand over the money.
Nelda Velasquez, Robbery Victim
"Two boys came here and robbed those girls and then afterwards they came to the cashier and took $500 from the cashier and the gold chain from one of those girls. They robbed two boys who were drinking here too."
Keith Swift,
So when they came in what did they say?
Nelda Velasquez,
"They just came in and said they want the money. They said they didn't want to shoot anyone, they just want the money and that's all - they didn't want any problem with us."
Keith Swift,
So two of them had guns?
Nelda Velasquez,
"Two of them had guns."
Keith Swift,
Were they wearing masks?
Nelda Velasquez,
"No, they only put the t-shirts over their mouths, their own t-shirts. We were just afraid. What to do, I couldn't do anything. I just give them the money and that's it. You can't force yourself. The money you can make it back but you can't make back your life."
The robbers fled with $500 from the cash register, a gold chain from one of the waitress, and $400 from a customer. Police are investigating.
