COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two West Side bars were robbed overnight after a robbery early Tuesday , and the MO in all three recent bar robberies is similar.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
Bob Chambers was having a beer at the Keg Room on the 3600 block of West Broad Street like he does a couple times a week.
Close to 1:30 a.m., though, a seemingly normal night changed into something not so everyday.
“I was having my second beer, and I got up to go to the bathroom, and somebody grabbed me from behind. It was a big commotion, and next thing I know, I'm on the floor, and somebody's got a gun in my face. He said, ‘Give me your money.’ I said, ‘OK, no problem.’ ”
Chambers said moments later the suspect discharged his 9mm pistol right next to Chamber’s left ear.
Aside from a cut on his ear, Chamber has a large bump on his head from when he hit the ground.
Witnesses said two men came in around 1 a.m., ordered a beer and started playing pool. About 15 minutes later, another two men came in, and their faces were covered.
Guns were drawn, and all four of the suspects turned on bar patrons and employees, witnesses said.
Witnesses said after the suspects forced them to the ground and robbed them of everything from cigarettes to cell phones and wallets, the suspects forced them into a freezer.
The suspects made off with about $2,000, authorities said.
A second bar, which was only five miles away, also was robbed about an hour earlier.
NBC 4 was told the suspects robbing the K & J Pit Stop at Brown and Hart roads also forced a patron and an employee into a freezer.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
Both of Thursday's robberies were similar to an incident that happened early Tuesday morning.
In that incident, three allegedly armed suspects went into Burnzie's Tavern on West Mound Street and robbed a bartender and a customer before fleeing.
Burnzie’s Tavern is just a few miles away from the Keg Room.
Officials continued to investigate the three robberies and were looking into the possibility the crimes are related.
Keg Room owner Benny Phillips said he has no doubt the three incidents are related.
"I think all bar owners should be on alert," Phillips said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Franklin County sheriff’s office at 614-462-3350.
For additional information on this developing story, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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