JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Burger King on Beach Boulevard just east of Interstate 295 was robbed just after noon Sunday by two men, one of which was carrying an assault rifle, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
"It was shocking, I was in a state of shock," Burger Kind employee Michael McNair told Channel 4 Monday night. "I really couldn't move. Any false moves at that time and he could go shooting everybody."
Police say the suspects entered the business, demanded and received money, then left the restaurant and ran north behind the Beachwood Plaza Shopping Center.
The two robbers wore bandanas covering their faces. Police released a surveillance photo of the men running from the scene.
"This generally doesn't happen at a fast food restaurant," said Channel 4's Crime Analyst, Ken Jefferson. "They thought that this would be a soft target. If you find yourself in a situation like this where you are at the counter or sitting down and eating and you see masked men with an assault rifle, you don't want to intervene," said Jefferson. "Get down as low as you can, simply because you want to get out of their firing range if possible. In a closed environment like this there's nothing to prevent them from hurting you."
Anyone who has any information about the robbery is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward, call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.