Church fireworks stand robbed at gunpoint in Merced

MERCED -- A 23-year-old Merced man said he's lucky to be alive after he and two friends were robbed at gunpoint while working at a church fireworks booth Tuesday night.

Merced police say the two robbers remain at large.

The incident was reported around 10:40 p.m. at Calvary Temple Pentecostal Church, located at 2740 N. Highway 59.

Nathan Allen, the church's 23-year-old children's pastor, said he was closing up the fireworks booth with his girlfriend and a male volunteer. Allen was preparing to count the cash when he suddenly heard his girlfriend scream. "Immediately after that, I hear (someone say) 'Turn around. Get on the ground,' " Allen said.

Allen then saw the barrel of a 12-gauge shotgun, pointed about 6 inches from his face.

Allen and the male volunteer complied with the robbers' orders, lying on the ground.

Meanwhile, Allen's girlfriend sat in a chair and cried.

The robbers pulled out a duffel bag and began stuffing cash into it. "The whole time they were saying 'Stay down. I'll shoot you,' " Allen recalled.

After taking the cash and some fireworks, the robbers fled on foot, Allen said, then he and his friends called the police.

Allen said he wasn't able to get a good look at the robbers, described as black adults.

One of the robbers was wearing a bandanna across his face, he said.

Despite the trauma of the event, Allen said he's just glad no one was hurt. "To be completely honest, I didn't even care about the money," he said. "I had two people there that I care a lot about. I was more afraid for them than losing a couple hundred bucks. That didn't matter to me."

The money from the fireworks booth was supposed to benefit a camp for kids, Allen said.

Detectives ask anyone with information about the robbery to call Sgt. Scott Skinner at (209) 385-4702 or the department's automated tip line at (209) 385-4725. Tips are kept confidential, and callers can remain anonymous.

Tips can be sent via text message to TIP411 (847411) using "comvip" as the message's first word.

City Editor Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsunstar.com.

Source: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/07/04/2408481/church-fireworks-stand-robbed.html

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