Witness To Restaurant Shooting: 'I Saw Blood'

The only witness to a deadly restaurant robbery shared details of the crime exclusively with Channel 2's Mark Winne Friday.

Armed thieves shot and killed John Henderson, 27, before taking off with cash they stole from The Standard Food and Spirits. Ashley Elder was working with Henderson that night.

Elder said she and fellow bartender and friend, John Henderson, had just closed The Standard Food and Spirits on Memorial Drive shortly before 4 a.m. Wednesday when four or five masked men smashed their way in.

SLIDESHOW: Scene Of Restaurant Shooting

"They seemed young to me. They seemed small-framed," said Elder.

An Atlanta police homicide detective said Friday that he would not stop until he closes the case with the arrest of Henderson's killers.

"Entry was made by throwing a large rock through this plate glass door," said Det. Anthony Gentile. "The robbers went for the cash register behind the bar and Mr. John Henderson was shot one time."

"It's not like John was going to put up a fight or anything," said Elder.

"John Henderson was walked back into the office by the robbers. There were also two other robbers that had been back in the office with Ms. Ashley Elder," said Gentile.

John Henderson IM John Henderson, 27, was killed as he was closing The Standard Food and Spirits. John Henderson, 27, was killed Wednesday as he was closing The Standard Food and Spirits.

"I looked up and the barrel of a gun came through the door and I saw the gun before I saw the kid or the guy," said Elder.

"An undetermined amount of money was taken from the office and then Mr. Henderson was shot one more time in the leg," said Gentile.

Gentile said Henderson was not resisting.

MARK WINNE: Restaurant Murder Witness Talks About Frightening Ordeal

"I just simply said, 'Please don't shoot me,' I told them my grandmother had just died and my mother couldn't handle losing me," said Elder.

"As the robbers were leaving, they shut the door and then turned around and fired several rounds back into the door," said Gentile.

"It was real quick. They were leaving and I heard a bunch of gunshots. About 20 seconds passed. I didn't hear anything else and I thought they were gone so I picked up the phone and called 911 and put my hand on John and prayed for him. I didn't see any gunshots...I saw blood," said Elder.

Elder said she was getting through the trauma OK. "I don't know what it is. God gives me strength and maybe I'm in shock still, I don't know. But I'm getting through it. My heart is broken for his family," she said.

Atlanta police announced Friday that the reward for whoever can lead police to the killers doubled to $10,500. If you have any information about the case call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS. That's 404-577-8477. You can remain anonymous.

Previous Stories: January 8, 2009: Mourners Blame Police Cutbacks For Bartender's Murder January 7, 2009: Employee Shot During Restaurant Robbery Dies At Grady