PHOENIX — Police are looking for a man who stole a tip jar and then shot at employees in downtown Phoenix Tuesday night.
The Phoenix Police Department said a man stole the tip jar from a restaurant near 5th and Roosevelt streets. When restaurant staffers ran after the man, police said he fired several shots at them.
"A guy came into our restaurant tonight, stole our tip jar, us as coworkers, just started chasing after him," said Taco Chelo employee Manuel Perches Tuesday night.
Police say multiple employees tried to chase the man down and that the man fired at the employees multiple times.
Perches says the guy had been in the shop for a few hours before this happened.
The man ran towards a nearby parking garage and is still on the loose.
No one was injured during the incident, officials said. We will continue to share updates on this incident as more details are released by authorities.
"I'm certainly concerned," said Curtlin Johnson, who is about to open an ATL Wings shop across the street from Taco Chelo. "Now it has me thinking if we should incorporate security."
At least two other shop owners on Roosevelt Row told 12 News Wednesday they’ve experienced recent break-ins. Their hope is to see more police patrol after it gets dark, especially now that there’s a shooting investigation.
It’s not clear how much money was in the Taco Chelo tip jar. Perches was just grateful for something far more valuable.
"Were all fine, we’re all alive," he said. "Nobody got shot. We’re all blessed to be alive right now."
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Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.