Mervat Fayyad

And I just see someone that came right from the kitchen to the front counter area. And I see someone standing, but I thought, you know, it was one of the crew people.

And I just see someone that came right from the kitchen to the front counter area. And I see someone standing, but I thought, you know, it was one of the crew people.

And then he said, I need you to get down on your knees and don't. say anything or don't scream. So that's when I turned around and I looked and I saw him. The only thing I can see was his eyes and a little bit of like the nose, but more the eyes because he had a mask on and he was holding a, I believe it was 22 rifle in his hand. And this is when it hit me as an, okay, what is happening?

And then he said, I need you to get down on your knees and don't. say anything or don't scream. So that's when I turned around and I looked and I saw him. The only thing I can see was his eyes and a little bit of like the nose, but more the eyes because he had a mask on and he was holding a, I believe it was 22 rifle in his hand. And this is when it hit me as an, okay, what is happening?

So now we're all like, well, we didn't get to see his face, but I remember his eyes and nose. There was something about, you know, his eyes and nose, because I was staring at him the whole time. They told us, we were scared to go outside. So they said, no, you can stay inside the lobby and kind of just look. So when we looked, he had that smirk on his face, like, I'm caught.

So now we're all like, well, we didn't get to see his face, but I remember his eyes and nose. There was something about, you know, his eyes and nose, because I was staring at him the whole time. They told us, we were scared to go outside. So they said, no, you can stay inside the lobby and kind of just look. So when we looked, he had that smirk on his face, like, I'm caught.

And I said, yep, that's him, because I remember his nose and his eyes. I said, that is him.

And I said, yep, that's him, because I remember his nose and his eyes. I said, that is him.

And then he slid the ceiling tiles and he came down. And I guess he waited there till we came. And that's when he did it.

And then he slid the ceiling tiles and he came down. And I guess he waited there till we came. And that's when he did it.

I said to her, this is real. Elaine, this is real. And this is when he asked all of us to just stay quiet and go walk into the office.

I said to her, this is real. Elaine, this is real. And this is when he asked all of us to just stay quiet and go walk into the office.

I had to go to the trial because I was one of the people that had to testify. We all had to. And was he in the courtroom when you testified? Oh, yes.

I had to go to the trial because I was one of the people that had to testify. We all had to. And was he in the courtroom when you testified? Oh, yes.

I was very nervous just for the simple fact that my boss and my other crew, they were not in the courthouse because we were not allowed to testify while they are all in there. So it was one at a time, basically. Till the end, then we were able to sit together. So I couldn't find anyone in that courtroom to kind of like look at and feel comfortable. So...

I was very nervous just for the simple fact that my boss and my other crew, they were not in the courthouse because we were not allowed to testify while they are all in there. So it was one at a time, basically. Till the end, then we were able to sit together. So I couldn't find anyone in that courtroom to kind of like look at and feel comfortable. So...

And then I had to look at him and I have to say, yes, this is him. He's the person. But it had that same smirk, that little smile smirk on his face that, do you remember me? Or, yep, it's me, kind of look. And he was just sitting so tall, like just, like he, you don't see that I'm sorry look on his face. It was like, yep, it's me.

And then I had to look at him and I have to say, yes, this is him. He's the person. But it had that same smirk, that little smile smirk on his face that, do you remember me? Or, yep, it's me, kind of look. And he was just sitting so tall, like just, like he, you don't see that I'm sorry look on his face. It was like, yep, it's me.

When he saw that, he grabbed it and he said, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to take it because I don't want you to do something stupid that would kind of force him to do any harm.

When he saw that, he grabbed it and he said, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to take it because I don't want you to do something stupid that would kind of force him to do any harm.

That way we can all be low because of the drive-through window. That way no one can drive and see us. No one was talking. Everything was super quiet. The only thing you heard was...

That way we can all be low because of the drive-through window. That way no one can drive and see us. No one was talking. Everything was super quiet. The only thing you heard was...

The sheriff officer came in and said, I would like to let you know something.

The sheriff officer came in and said, I would like to let you know something.

you know the beeping and stuff like that from cooking i know that at one point the grills opened back up because they were cooking sausage and the oven started beeping because there was apple pies in there so one of the crew people that the lady in uh in the kitchen said Elaine, what do you want me to do with the sausage and the pies? She said, well, ask him. He's in charge here.

you know the beeping and stuff like that from cooking i know that at one point the grills opened back up because they were cooking sausage and the oven started beeping because there was apple pies in there so one of the crew people that the lady in uh in the kitchen said Elaine, what do you want me to do with the sausage and the pies? She said, well, ask him. He's in charge here.

And he actually told her that you can get up and remove the sausage and the apple pies from the oven.

And he actually told her that you can get up and remove the sausage and the apple pies from the oven.

He had a bag, and she was just putting all the money that we had in the safe.

He had a bag, and she was just putting all the money that we had in the safe.

in the bag so and she was just putting like last night's deposit she was putting all the cash from the registers and when she put all that she said okay i'm done you want the coins and he actually said to her yes i like coins please put them all so yeah she put all the coins that was in the safe that day everything in there for him was it a lot of money

in the bag so and she was just putting like last night's deposit she was putting all the cash from the registers and when she put all that she said okay i'm done you want the coins and he actually said to her yes i like coins please put them all so yeah she put all the coins that was in the safe that day everything in there for him was it a lot of money

I believe it was between $7,000 and $8,000, but that was a lot of money for him to take.

I believe it was between $7,000 and $8,000, but that was a lot of money for him to take.

Super, super polite. He was saying nothing but, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for doing this to you guys. You guys are the good people. I'm the bad person. I'm so sorry. Please... And I didn't know whether to laugh or to be scared or is this real? Because, you know, you see in the movies, robberies are not like that.

Super, super polite. He was saying nothing but, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for doing this to you guys. You guys are the good people. I'm the bad person. I'm so sorry. Please... And I didn't know whether to laugh or to be scared or is this real? Because, you know, you see in the movies, robberies are not like that.

I didn't know. I don't think there was, like, time to think about any of that. I didn't even think about, well, what's next?

I didn't know. I don't think there was, like, time to think about any of that. I didn't even think about, well, what's next?

He did tell us that... don't scream or don't try to do anything for the next, I believe he said five, 10 minutes or something, and someone will get us out. So we got in there. Elaine was so scared that her mouth got so dry that it was shut. She couldn't open, she couldn't talk. So I looked at her and I just turned around, grabbed a bottle of milk, opened it, and I said, here you go.

He did tell us that... don't scream or don't try to do anything for the next, I believe he said five, 10 minutes or something, and someone will get us out. So we got in there. Elaine was so scared that her mouth got so dry that it was shut. She couldn't open, she couldn't talk. So I looked at her and I just turned around, grabbed a bottle of milk, opened it, and I said, here you go.

Just drink this. Just stay calm. We waited. We didn't hear anything out. So we started pushing the door a little bit. We kind of knew that door doesn't lock. He did not know that, but we knew that that door does not lock. It does not matter how many locks you put on there, it's not going to lock. So we just kept pushing it, pushing it, pushing it. We pushed it hard, and it opened.

Just drink this. Just stay calm. We waited. We didn't hear anything out. So we started pushing the door a little bit. We kind of knew that door doesn't lock. He did not know that, but we knew that that door does not lock. It does not matter how many locks you put on there, it's not going to lock. So we just kept pushing it, pushing it, pushing it. We pushed it hard, and it opened.

So a lot of people say, oh, you were locked in the freezer. No, we were not locked in the freezer, but this is the cooler. The temperature is 41 degrees. I mean, it's kind of cold. Yes, yes, it is. But if you do jumping jacks, you're not going to die.

So a lot of people say, oh, you were locked in the freezer. No, we were not locked in the freezer, but this is the cooler. The temperature is 41 degrees. I mean, it's kind of cold. Yes, yes, it is. But if you do jumping jacks, you're not going to die.

Oh, not even not even five minutes. because we were not able to be patient enough, and we wanted out.

Oh, not even not even five minutes. because we were not able to be patient enough, and we wanted out.

Yes, so we were. I think what got us at ease is that that back door was cracked open a little bit. The alarm was going, and we didn't see him.

Yes, so we were. I think what got us at ease is that that back door was cracked open a little bit. The alarm was going, and we didn't see him.

Everything in the store was beeping. Everything. Just the only thing we hear is beeps and quiet. Like us being so quiet. That's when we ran and called the police right away.

Everything in the store was beeping. Everything. Just the only thing we hear is beeps and quiet. Like us being so quiet. That's when we ran and called the police right away.

Turn on the grills, the fryer, start cooking, prepping biscuits, and start making the tea, fresh tea, fresh coffee, and make sure everything's stocked and good and clean. So I know Grandma, that's what we called her, she was making the biscuits.

Turn on the grills, the fryer, start cooking, prepping biscuits, and start making the tea, fresh tea, fresh coffee, and make sure everything's stocked and good and clean. So I know Grandma, that's what we called her, she was making the biscuits.