MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – A Montgomery business owner was robbed at gunpoint in his office downtown Monday night after being assaulted and tied up by four masked men.
Jim Massey, owner of one of Montgomery’s oldest and most trusted businesses, said he is thankful to be alive after the terrifying ordeal.
Massey was alone in his office around 6 p.m. when he heard a loud crash. As he stepped out to investigate, he was confronted by a man rushing down the hallway.
“This guy comes walking fast, jogging down the hallway, and said, ‘We’ve accidentally run a car into your front door,’” Massey said. “But then he got closer. I realized he had on a mask, goggles, and a hat. And about that time, there was a second one behind him. They both grabbed me, and behind them were two more guys. They said, ‘Let’s go to the safe. Take us to the safe.’ And I said, ‘OK.’ They had a gun. There were four of them. I did not have a gun—probably, thank goodness.”
The suspects were wearing hard hats and reflective construction vests, Massey said. He told them the combination to the safe was stored on his phone in his office.
“He just reared back, and that’s where this came from,” Massey said, pointing to a swollen, black-and-blue eye. “He chipped my tooth and cut my chin. I was standing upright, and the guy was holding my arms up. When he hit me, I fell down, but the guy holding my arms kind of kept me up. So then I’m in a squatted position trying to figure out what the heck just happened. And as I’m kind of half kneeling, he puts the gun on top of my head and said, ‘If you don’t tell us the combination, I’m going to blow your blankety-blank head off, and I’ll do it.’ My life didn’t flash before my eyes, but my wife and two kids—they were the three people that came to mind.”
After finally bringing Massey his phone, the suspects forced him to unlock the safe. They emptied it, zip-tied his feet in addition to his already zip-tied hands, and took his car keys before fleeing the scene. The entire incident lasted only six or seven minutes.
“He zip-tied my feet real tight and then they asked for my car keys,” Massey said. “I pointed to where they were. They got the car keys. They still had my phone, and they took off. I hopped over to my desk where I keep a pocket knife. I cut the (zip-tie) off my feet and called the police. I think people need to realize—because I sure didn’t—that it can happen to anybody, anywhere.”
Massey said the outpouring of love and concern from his 85 employees and the community has been overwhelming.
“Thank goodness I’m here,” he said.
Massey’s car was found abandoned three blocks from his office several hours after the robbery. As of Thursday, no arrests have been made, and the Montgomery Police Department said the case remains under investigation.
Jim Massey, owner of one of Montgomery’s oldest and most trusted businesses, said he is thankful to be alive after the terrifying ordeal.
Massey was alone in his office around 6 p.m. when he heard a loud crash. As he stepped out to investigate, he was confronted by a man rushing down the hallway.
“This guy comes walking fast, jogging down the hallway, and said, ‘We’ve accidentally run a car into your front door,’” Massey said. “But then he got closer. I realized he had on a mask, goggles, and a hat. And about that time, there was a second one behind him. They both grabbed me, and behind them were two more guys. They said, ‘Let’s go to the safe. Take us to the safe.’ And I said, ‘OK.’ They had a gun. There were four of them. I did not have a gun—probably, thank goodness.”
The suspects were wearing hard hats and reflective construction vests, Massey said. He told them the combination to the safe was stored on his phone in his office.
“He just reared back, and that’s where this came from,” Massey said, pointing to a swollen, black-and-blue eye. “He chipped my tooth and cut my chin. I was standing upright, and the guy was holding my arms up. When he hit me, I fell down, but the guy holding my arms kind of kept me up. So then I’m in a squatted position trying to figure out what the heck just happened. And as I’m kind of half kneeling, he puts the gun on top of my head and said, ‘If you don’t tell us the combination, I’m going to blow your blankety-blank head off, and I’ll do it.’ My life didn’t flash before my eyes, but my wife and two kids—they were the three people that came to mind.”
After finally bringing Massey his phone, the suspects forced him to unlock the safe. They emptied it, zip-tied his feet in addition to his already zip-tied hands, and took his car keys before fleeing the scene. The entire incident lasted only six or seven minutes.
“He zip-tied my feet real tight and then they asked for my car keys,” Massey said. “I pointed to where they were. They got the car keys. They still had my phone, and they took off. I hopped over to my desk where I keep a pocket knife. I cut the (zip-tie) off my feet and called the police. I think people need to realize—because I sure didn’t—that it can happen to anybody, anywhere.”
Massey said the outpouring of love and concern from his 85 employees and the community has been overwhelming.
“Thank goodness I’m here,” he said.
Massey’s car was found abandoned three blocks from his office several hours after the robbery. As of Thursday, no arrests have been made, and the Montgomery Police Department said the case remains under investigation.
