ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A man was robbed at gunpoint in a restroom at the St. Augustine Premium Outlets Mall on Sunday afternoon while his family waited outside for him, St. Johns County deputies said, and now investigators are trying to find the robber and another man seen with him.
Deputies were called to a robbery with a firearm at the mall in the 2700 block of state Road 16 about 2:30 p.m.
The robbery victim told deputies that he was in the men's restroom in the food court, near the center of the mall, and was using a hand dryer when a man approached him from behind and began to pull on a wallet in his side pocket.
The victim told deputies that he and the robber began to fight, and the victim tried to leave the restroom when the robber used his body to slam the door closed.
Deputies said the robber struck the victim in the face with a closed fist, and the victim then punched the robber several times. At that point, deputies said, the robber pulled a handgun from his front waistband, pointed it at the victim's face and said, "I will (expletive) kill you and your kids outside."
The victim then gave his wallet to the robber, who left the restroom, deputies said.
Deputies said the victim followed the robber a few moments later and tried to chase him but lost sight of him as he fled the food court, heading north along the mall.
Deputies said the victim did not see if the robber got into a vehicle.
The victim described the robber as a black man who's about 40 years old, about 6 feet tall and about 250 pounds, clean-shaven with short hair. He was wearing a red, collared polo shirt and khaki shorts.
The victim told deputies the handgun was black and possibly a 9 mm semiautomatic Beretta.
The victim also told deputies there was a second man in the restroom who appeared to communicate with the robber during the robbery and who also fled the scene afterward. That man was described as a black man, about 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 160 pounds, clean-shaven with short hair. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and blue jeans.
The victim's wife told deputies that she and her children were waiting outside the men's restroom for the victim when she saw what appeared to be someone struggling with the restroom door.
Shortly thereafter, the victim's wife saw the robber come out of the restroom, deputies said. She told deputies the robber told her, "Thank you," and ran out of the food court.
The victim's wife told deputies that the stolen Louis Vouitton wallet, valued at $1,000, contained several credit cards, gift cards and a driver's license and belonged to her. While deputies were at the scene, the victim's wife canceled all of the credit cards.
If you have any information about the robber's identity or that of the man seen with him, or their whereabouts, call Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS.
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