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Robbers hold up Milwaukee church bingo hall
More than 100 players scramble as gunmen enter
By Jesse Garza of the Journal Sentinel
Aug. 13, 2010 11:38 p.m.
Masked, armed robbers terrorized players at a south side bingo hall Friday night when they stormed into the hall and began demanding women's purses at gunpoint, witnesses and police said.
The robbery was reported shortly after 9 p.m. at the bingo hall for St. Rafael the Archangel parish at S. 31st St. and W. Lincoln Ave., said 2nd District Police Lt. Phil Henschel. No one was injured during the incident, which involved multiple robbers and multiple victims, Henschel said. The robbers escaped with an undetermined amount of cash, and police were searching for them late Friday, Henschel said.
More than 100 players were in the hall when the robbery took place, witnesses said.
Witnesses said as many as three robbers wearing Halloween masks stormed into the hall shortly after 9 p.m. and at least one was armed with what appeared to be a handgun. One woman who had not played bingo at the church hall in years said one of the robbers put a handgun to her daughter's face before grabbing her purse and fleeing.
"Everybody was jumping up and getting down under the tables," said Carolyn Townsend, 75.
Verdine Acosta, 55, said she saw several of the robbers approach from the back of the hall.
"The caller yelled to the people in the office to lock the doors and call 911," she said.
Lisa Moonen, 45, said a woman seated next to her collapsed to the floor as other players began screaming and running toward the doors.
"It was really scary. Everyone in the place was shaking and screaming," Moonen said.
More than 100 players scramble as gunmen enter
By Jesse Garza of the Journal Sentinel
Aug. 13, 2010 11:38 p.m.
Masked, armed robbers terrorized players at a south side bingo hall Friday night when they stormed into the hall and began demanding women's purses at gunpoint, witnesses and police said.
The robbery was reported shortly after 9 p.m. at the bingo hall for St. Rafael the Archangel parish at S. 31st St. and W. Lincoln Ave., said 2nd District Police Lt. Phil Henschel. No one was injured during the incident, which involved multiple robbers and multiple victims, Henschel said. The robbers escaped with an undetermined amount of cash, and police were searching for them late Friday, Henschel said.
More than 100 players were in the hall when the robbery took place, witnesses said.
Witnesses said as many as three robbers wearing Halloween masks stormed into the hall shortly after 9 p.m. and at least one was armed with what appeared to be a handgun. One woman who had not played bingo at the church hall in years said one of the robbers put a handgun to her daughter's face before grabbing her purse and fleeing.
"Everybody was jumping up and getting down under the tables," said Carolyn Townsend, 75.
Verdine Acosta, 55, said she saw several of the robbers approach from the back of the hall.
"The caller yelled to the people in the office to lock the doors and call 911," she said.
Lisa Moonen, 45, said a woman seated next to her collapsed to the floor as other players began screaming and running toward the doors.
"It was really scary. Everyone in the place was shaking and screaming," Moonen said.