Henry County

Armed men rob Outback Steakhouse with customers dining inside, police say

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Police are searching for men with guns who robbed a popular restaurant as customers finished their meals Saturday night.

The robbery happened at the Outback Steakhouse on North Park Court off I-75 in Henry County around closing time. No customers or employees were hurt, according to police.

Channel 2's Lauren Pozen went to the restaurant, where she spoke with an employee about the robbery.

The employee did not want to go on camera but said someone knocked on the side door and a new employee opened it.

He said two men with masks stormed inside and took money from tip jar and cash register along with workers' cellphones. The employee saw the robbers run out the front door and jump into a parked car.

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Police said the group led officers on a chase up I-75, but the suspects stopped the car near the Walt Stephens overpass and escaped.

One officer said he heard five gunshots, but it is unknown if they were random or aired at police.

The police search for the suspects led officers to a nearby neighborhood, which was shut down for hours.

Neighbor David Lundy told Pozen he couldn't get back inside the subdivision to his wife and daughter because of the search.

"There is a thick area of woods behind our subdivision that separates our subdivison from I-75. So could be hiding in there, trying to get out, all different ways," Lundy said.

Police say one person was detained but later released from the scene.

Pozen received this statement from Outback Steakhouse's corporate offices:

“We take employee and customer safety very seriously and are cooperating with police as we also reinforce our security practices.”