Charleston police: Robber couldn’t open money drawer at West Ashley Subway

BY ANDREW KNAPP
and CHRISTINA ELMORE

aknapp@postandcourier.com celmore@postandcourier.com

The owner of a West Ashley Subway said he had a feeling something was wrong shortly before a masked robber tried but failed to pry open a money drawer at the sandwich shop Thursday night.

The attempted robbery of the Subway at 13 Magnolia Road, near Savannah Highway, was reported around 8 p.m.

Mohammad Selmi said he was put on edge when a man walked into the shop and asked several suspicious questions.

“First he asked me for a cup of water and I gave it to him. Then he asked if we’re busy, am I by myself, what time do we close, because he’s going to come back to get a sandwich,” Selmi said.

After the man left, Selmi said, someone called the venue’s business phone three times from a private number.

Selmi didn’t answer the calls, but he said he felt like someone was checking to see if he was still in the restaurant.

Shortly after the third call, a man 22 to 25 years old entered the restaurant’s rear door and pointed a gun at Selmi, Charleston police spokesman Cpl. Fred Bowie said.

The man was described as black, about 5-foot-8 with a medium build dressed in black clothes.

Selmi told police he ran out the front door and yelled for someone to call 911 while the man tried unsuccessfully to access the cash register.

The man fled through the rear door after his failed attempts.

A short time later, officers stopped and handcuffed two men, an 18-year-old and a 51-year-old, as they rode bicycles on Magnolia Road with a 48-year-old woman. Officers said the men fit the suspect’s description.

When they found that the two were not involved in the incident, officers released them.

The identity of the robber remains unknown.

Reach Andrew Knapp at 937-5414. Reach Christina Elmore at 937-5908.