Manager held at gunpoint says robber cased store for days

ATLANTA — Atlanta Police are looking for three men involved in an armed robbery in Southwest Atlanta.

It happened in broad daylight, at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Big Brother Grocery on Lee Street.

Store manager, Bilto Ray, believes the armed robber plotted the attack inside his Lee Street convenience store for days.

"I'm totally shocked," Ray told Channel 2 Action News photojournalist Jason Caldwell in an interview.

Ray said God blessed his life, as he begged for it.

“I said, 'Please, don’t shoot. Please leave me alone,'” said Ray. “'Take all the money. Don’t shoot," Ray said.

TRENDING STORIES:

• ATLANTA MAYORAL RACE: New poll shows shakeup at top
• Residents say car thefts major issue at new shopping center
• More than $1M worth of marijuana seized on busy interstate

Atlanta Police said the robber crouched in an aisle, then popped up with a handgun. Surveillance video shows him aim his gun at Ray, while making demands for cash.

The father said he thought about his family in what could have been the last moments of his life.

“I was praying, 'God. Please leave me alone. Don’t kill me. I have two kids. My wife,'” Ray said, as he fought back tears.

He said he handed over cigarettes and almost $4,500.

He said the gunman and his two accomplices had been playing poker video machines inside his store moments before. Ray believes the gunman had cased the place since Friday.

"I was thinking he’s the mastermind because he’s been sitting here the last two days, watching, watching, watching," Ray said.

The store manager told us he’s worked at Big Brother Grocery for twelve years, and he's never been robbed. He considers his customers family and says he loves the neighborhood.

In an email, Atlanta Police said the gunman caught up with the other men in the parking lot after taking the cash, and they all got away.

Detectives continue to search for the trio. Meanwhile, Ray feels lucky he survived.

Cox Media Group