A woman says the same armed robber targeted her liquor store in Hesperia twice. Angie Crouch reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2016.
Police were seeking a man who robbed a Hesperia liquor store at gunpoint Friday morning, and the owner believes this was the same gunman who robbed her store last week.
The incident occurred just before 11:30 a.m. at the Applejack Liquor on Main Street, according to police.
Surveillance footage showed the masked man walking in and pointing a gun at store owner Hee Kim, who was on the phone with her son.
Her son listened in horror as Kim screamed and the gunman demanded cash, cigarettes and liquor.
The suspect took Kim's phone and ran to the parking lot and into a waiting silver or white four-door car.
Longtime customers were shocked to see the hardworking family violated again.
"This family is the epitome of the American story," said Dan Tate, a customer. "They work so hard. Mrs. Kim takes care of her husband with diabetes on dialysis."
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Hesperia Police said the incident was nearly identical to another robbery that happened at Applejack last Wednesday night.
A gunman, who had painted his face black, pointed a gun at Kim's elderly father-in-law and got away with more than $1,000 cash, cigarettes and alcohol. Last week the man escaped in a dark-colored Dodge with a spoiler.
Friday's video showed the suspect was wearing a Chicago Bulls baseball cap and appeared to have a tattoo across the knuckles on his left hand.
"I don't know what he's thinking. I guess just looking at the opportunity to take advantage of people that are vulnerable," said customer David Olson.
Hesperia Police have not confirmed whether the gunman was the same person who robbed the store last week.
Police were investigating both incidents.
