No one was injured early Thursday after a man entered a Kyle-area restaurant and robbed customers and employees at gunpoint, according to a city of Kyle press release.
Authorities are now searching for the suspect, who they believe is also connected to an attempted aggravated robbery at a San Marcos restaurant 30 minutes beforehand.
According to the release, the aggravated robbery in Kyle occurred around 12:15 a.m. at the IHOP located along the northbound Interstate 35 access road near Kyle Parkway. Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett said the man robbed customers and employees at gunpoint, and then fled on foot to the south of the restaurant.
Witnesses described the suspect as a black male with a thin build. The man, who stood approximately 5’10” to 6’0” tall, was wearing a black hoodie-style sweatshirt with light colored sleeves, gray shorts, black socks and shoes. The suspect also wore a blue bandanna to cover his face.
Kyle Police are investigating the robbery, according to the release.
San Marcos Police are searching for a suspicious person with a similar description who tried to enter a locked restaurant 30 minutes before the Kyle incident occurred, according to the release.
Trey Hatt, spokesperson for the city of San Marcos, said San Marcos Police were dispatched to the Wing Stop restaurant, located in the 900 block of Highway 80, at 11:45 p.m. on March 29 to investigate reports of a suspicious person with a handgun.
Witness told authorities a black male in a hoodie with light colored sleeves approached the business and tried to open the door. When the suspect found it locked, he passed in front of the business an d then turned back.
He tried the door again and then brandished a small, silver-colored handgun in full-view of patrons eating at the restaurant.
Witnesses told authorities the suspect ran toward the direction of Interstate-35. Police units immediately searched the area and the area of Bugg Lane but found no suspects.
“Restaurant employees told police that they had locked the doors for the evening minutes before the man tried to enter,” Hatt said.
According to a report on KVUE-TV, Austin Police reported a robbery at a Chevron gas station on I-35 and Lady Bird Lake in Austin around 2:30 a.m. The suspect was wearing a navy blue shirt and a blue bandanna at the time of the robbery, according to the KVUE report. Police, however, did not say if all robberies are connected.
Anyone who may have information about either case should contact Kyle Police at 512.268.3232 or San Marcos Police at 512.753.2108.
This story is developing. We will provide updated information as it becomes available.
