Man robs a Zippy J’s while claiming to have a gun

TYLER – A man stole hundreds of dollars from a Zippy J’s in Tyler early Wednesday morning after shutting off the store’s power and claiming to have a gun that he was ‘not afraid to use.’

According to a report from our news partner KETK, at Zippy J’s #19 on 1610 South Vine Avenue in Tyler, a man shut off all power to the store before entering the north side of the building.

“With his hand in a backpack, he tells them he has a gun and he is not afraid to use it,” Zippy J’s clerk said. He stole about $700 from two registers.

The store clerk said the man ran across the street towards Tyler Bingo Hall after he obtained the money. As of now, the Tyler Police Department is unsure if the man had a gun.