Police are searching for suspects after a Fort Smith Sonic fast food restaurant was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night.
Fort Smith Police responded at 9:46 p.m. to the Sonic restaurant located at 529 N. Greenwood Ave, regarding a robbery that had just occurred, said Sgt. Daniel Grubbs with the Fort Smith Police Department.
Employees reported to police that two men entered the business, and one was armed with a semi-automatic handgun.
"One of the suspects had a firearm and pointed it at various employees inside the business, demanding everything the employee had," Grubbs said.
The clerk told the suspects that all cash had been deposited, and the armed suspect took a small cup that contained tip money. Then both suspects left the scene, according to police.
"The armed suspect was described as a white male approximately five-foot-11, medium build, possibly in his mid-20s, and spoke with an urban street slang while making demands," according to a statement released by Fort Smith Police. "He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a ball cap and a blue bandanna covering most of his face. The second suspect appears to have similar characteristics, but wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt."
A witness told officers she saw a white male wearing a ball cap, dark hooded sweatshirt and a bandana around his face come through the alley and get into a rough-looking white passenger car.
The car appeared to be driven by a white female with blonde hair. The direction they fled in is unknown, according to police.
Bilha and Ariam Valdez live along the alleyway and said an armed robbery is scary, but not surprising for the area.
"Around 12 a.m. every night, we hear gunshots," said Bilha Valdez. "It's scary to think about those gunshots and what can happen. I can be next. My house can be next."
Ariam Valdez said she will not feel safe until police find the suspects.
"You never know who's next," she said. "It might be another business close by or a home. It just makes you want to be more secure and watch out for everybody."
Police said four of the Sonic employees that were working at the time of the robbery were minors. No one was injured.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to the call the Fort Smith Police Department at 479-709-5100 or the call the River Valley Crimestoppers by dialing 780-CRIME.
