ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Johns County deputies are searching for a man who ran from an Applebee's restaurant in St. Augustine Sunday night after shooting the manager during a struggle, according to authorities.
The shooting happened about 11:15 p.m. at the restaurant on state Road 312, just off U.S. 1.
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Rosemary Boss told detectives she was in the back room as the restaurant was closing when a man came in, grabbed her by the throat, held a gun to her head and demanded money. The victim said as she struggled with the robber, at least one shot was fired.
Boss, 54, was transported to Flagler Hospital, then flown by air ambulance to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center in Jacksonville, where she was awake and talking to investigators.
The robber ran out of the restaurant. It wasn't immediately known if he got any money before he left.
Deputies aided by a K-9 unit traced a scent from the restaurant to a nearby strip mall, but lost the trail.
The robber was described as a black man, 5 feet 9 inches tall. He was wearing a red ski cap, a black sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Deputies with the violent crimes unit of the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office would like to talk with anyone who saw a subject running in the area of S.R. 312 between U.S. 1 and the Intracoastal Waterway between 11 and 11:20 p.m.
Callers can remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward by calling Crimestoppers at 888-277-TIPS.