Would-be robber fired at restaurant employees pursuing him, police say

A man tried to rob a Spenard pizza restaurant Sunday but was turned back by the owner and employees who chased him outside.

The man didn't get any money. When Milano's Pizzeria employees and others pursued him, he fired a gun in their direction, the restaurant owner Pete Foudeas said Monday.

The shots-fired call came in just before 11:45 a.m. Sunday, according to an Anchorage Police Department alert Monday.

Officers who responded found the man entered the restaurant on West 36th Avenue and tried to take money out of the register, but an employee ran to the front and he ran outside without taking anything, police wrote.

Foudeas said he was in his office when he noticed the man on his surveillance camera "acting very weird."

An employee saw him at the register and asked him what he was doing, Foudeas said. It was clear the man planned to rob the restaurant at gunpoint.

He came out of his office and, with three others including the owner of Tony's Auto next door, started chasing the man, Foudeas said. The man fired his gun at them, he said. Foudeas said he was about 25 feet away at the time, but an employee was within 12 feet or so.

The pursuit ended with no one hurt, police said.

Police said they had no suspect information Monday. The restaurant provided a photo of the man they believe is the suspect.

Anyone with information regarding this crime can call Dispatch at 3-1-1 (option #1) or remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP.