Search Continues For North Tulsa Grocery Store Robber

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa Police are still looking for the man who robbed North Tulsa's new grocery store. Officers say he had a gun, threatened employees and emptied Gateway Market's safe. 

The store has only been open three weeks.

2/7/2010  Related Story: New North Tulsa Grocery Store Robbed

It took nearly two and a half years of effort to return a grocery store to North Tulsa. It took one act by one man to dampen enthusiasm about Gateway Market.

"I just hope it doesn't get any worse because if it does, I don't know what's going to happen," said Antonio Perez, Gateway Market owner.

"It just makes me mad that one knucklehead can cause a problem like this," said Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett. " Whatever reason, who knows?"

Shortly before closing Friday night, employees say a man emerged from the back of the store. They say he herded them into the safe room, pointed a gun and demanded all the cash.

"Just kept telling us that someone was going to die tonight if we didn't get that safe open," said Deadrick Gillespie, Gateway Market employee.

The robbery has frustrated and angered shoppers who have frequented Gateway Market since it opened in January. 

After Albertson's closed in 2007, many were forced to do their grocery shopping as far as 15 miles away.

"It's shocking. Haven't been open long at all, and already someone is coming trying to do something like that," said Jerald Lawson, a shopper.

"I hope people will behave with some decorum and not tear their own communities down," said Monica Conely, a shopper.

That sentiment is shared by city councilors who pushed for a grocery store there. They say avoiding incidents like this will be crucial if Gateway Market is to succeed.

"The only way this store is going to survive is the community has got to shop here, and we have to stop the theft and some things like this from happening," said Jack Henderson, Tulsa City Councilor.

Gateway's owner Antonio Perez says they have caught several shoplifters as well. Still, he says he remains committed to the store and has every intention of keeping it open.