Jewelry Store Owner Describes Harrowing Minutes During Armed Robbery

A Springfield, Virginia, jewelry store owner described the frantic moments when a masked man ran into his shop Saturday, brandishing a handgun and stealing nearly everything.

Muhammad Rayaz, the owner of Dubai Jewelry, said the robber held a gun to the owner’s head while he went from case to case, taking everything inside. Rayaz said for eight minutes, the robber systematically clean out the showcases, stuffing the loot into a duffle bag.

“All that time, his one hand was on me, and with his other hand, he was taking out all the jewelry stuff,” Rayaz said. “I kept shouting, ‘Hey, don’t shoot me. Don’t shoot me. Please, don’t take. Please don’t take.’ And he said, “I’ll shoot you if you don’t, I’ll shoot you if, just stay quiet.’”

Security cameras recorded the incident, but they have not been released. Rayaz said the man was wearing brown clothes that looked like a UPS uniform, but it appeared to be a costume, with other clothes underneath.

“It was a UPS vest, but it was kind of fluffy,” he said. “I realized later, he might be wearing (the outfit) on top of something else.”

A Fairfax County police officer arrived at the scene as the robber was leaving the store. The man fired shots at the officer, and the officer returned fire, police said.

A bystander was injured during the exchange, but the injuries were considered non-life-threatening, police said. They said it appeared the bullet striking the bystander was fired by the robber.

The robber fled the scene, carjacking two cars before fleeing on foot. Patrol officers, K-9 units and the helicopter and troopers from the Virginia State Police searched the area Saturday but were unable to find the robber.

Police released have not released a detail description of the robber. It is unknown if the masked man was hit by the police gunfire.