A man reportedly threatened to shoot up Campus Craves on North Walnut Street on Monday night. Police haven’t been able to find him.
An apparently intoxicated man came into Campus Craves and shook a clerk’s hand, Bloomington Police Department Lt. John Kovach said Tuesday. Co-owner of Campus Craves and IU sophomore Hunter Haines said in an interview that the man tried to give his employee a hug. Then, the man started harassing employees.
“Can I kill a bitch for $15?” he said.
The man asked if he could wash dishes for money, Haines said. An employee gave the man $15 to get him to leave, but Haines said the man stayed for another 30 to 45 minutes.
Neither Haines or his co-owner were at the store when the man was there, Haines said. They didn't find out what happened until after the man left and their employees texted them.
Employees felt like they couldn’t reach for their phones because they didn’t want to do anything to make the man become violent, Haines said. He said the man slammed his hands on the counter and yelled at employees when they looked away.
Customers came in, and the man started harassing them as well, Haines said. He said the man called them racist, but the customers weren’t doing anything to provoke him.
Haines said the man left, telling customers, “Don’t think I won’t come back and shoot this place up.”
Employees locked the door after he left and texted Haines and his co-owner, Brayden Sammons.
Police arrived at Campus Craves around 10:30 p.m., Kovach said. He said officers drove around looking for the man, but couldn’t find anyone matching his description.
Campus Craves employees will meet soon to discuss dealing with these situations, Haines said.
“We take our customers’ and employees’ safety very seriously,” Haines said. “We want to have an open and inviting environment for people to come in.”
