Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

Decatur Police responded to a report of an armed robbery last night, March 4. It occurred in a parking lot at the corner of Church Street and Commerce Drive.

Police were dispatched to the call at 11:34 pm, Decatur Police Sgt. Jennifer Ross said

“The victim reported he parked and secured his 1994 Jeep Cherokee in the lot at approximately 7 pm and when he returned at approximately 11 pm, he observed the lock and ignition were damaged,” Ross said. “He attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful.  He secured the vehicle and went to a restaurant on East Court Square. The victim further reported that while he was standing outside of the restaurant, an unknown black male approached him and asked him if he was all right. He was visibly upset and assumed that was why the individual had asked.

“The victim returned to his vehicle at approximately 11:25 pm and observed a black male in the driver’s seat and two black males by the bushes next to his vehicle. He told the suspect in the vehicle to get out of the vehicle and the males began walking away from him. He then attempted to take a picture of the suspects with his cell phone. At this time, one of the suspects ran at the victim with a handgun drawn, and demanded his cell phone. The victim gave the suspects his cell phone and password.  The suspects fled on foot toward Clairemont Avenue. The victim was not injured.”

The suspects are described “teenaged black males wearing dark clothing but one had on something red, two were taller than the third.” One of the suspects was the same person who approached the victim in the parking lot to see if he was OK.