By Katie Kyros
York, PA (WPMT) — The two men burst into the store in broad daylight on Easter Sunday, one armed with a gun, and the other a knife. It happened at Martinez Grocery store on North Newberry Street.
Owner Nicholas Martinez released the surveillance video of the robbery on Tuesday. It shows one of the men lunging toward a customer, who escapes. The other man, who has the gun, grabs an employee in the back. He tells the employee to drop the knife he’s holding, and then forces him to the ground.
But Martinez keeps his own gun behind the counter, and when he showed it, the suspects ran out of the store.
“The gun is for protection, the family and the business,” says Martinez.
Police apprehended them a short time later. William Elliott and Terrell Tilley, both of Baltimore, are being held at York County Prison, charged with robbery and criminal conspiracy.
Regular customers are shocked by the brazen robbery attempt in the video.
“They take advantage of, since this is York, it’s small, so they come up here and figure they can do a little quick lick, and get away with it,” says James Powell of York.
Martinez says he keeps his gun to help police keep the streets clean.
“This is a guarantee for more service to the community,” says Martinez.