Armed Robbery Suspect Terrorizes Victims Inside Staten Island Store

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A deli customer on Staten Island ended up face-to-face with an armed robber who thought he worked there.

As CBS2's Meg Baker reported, it was a typical Tuesday evening for Jose Luiz until he ran downstairs to the San Mateo grocery store in his Rosebank neighborhood. That's when a man armed with a gun demanded cash from the customer.

"I see the gun in my face. He said don't move and give me money," Luiz said.

In surveillance video, you can see the suspect come in through the front door with a mask on his face. The owners thought he was just dressed for the cold weather, Baker reported.

"The guy was waiting outside with mesh in his face," Luiz said.

The suspect mistook Luiz for the owner and led him toward the cash register.

"He steal my chains and his money," Luiz said.

That's when the owner's sister, Irma Garcia-Gutierrez, stepped in.

"My sister comes and said 'please, please don't shoot us, we'll give you money,'" said Virgilio Garcia-Gutierrez.

Waving the gun, the suspect ordered everyone to the back room.

"'Stay on your knees on the floor,'" Luiz said the suspect demanded.

Virgilio said after that, the suspect demanded cash. The suspect got away with $600 from the cash register and then threatened them before fleeing.

"'Don't say nothing, don't call police. If you call police, I'll kill you. I know where you live. I know who you are," Virgilio recalled the suspect said.

Virgilio said the robber was shouting in Spanish.

"I think it's a Mexican guy. He's short like my size," he said.

After the suspect left, Virgilio's sister held the door closed while someone fetched the keys to lock it shut before calling police.

The family and neighbors were shaken from the experience and hope police catch the suspect soon. Until then, they said they will work in groups.