Group of gunmen hold up another bar in Bradenton

BRADENTON (FOX 13) - A group of gunmen has been targeting local bars in Manatee County.  Another holdup happened Monday night, just hours after deputies met with concerned bar owners.

Authorities say three men entered Scallywag’s in Bradenton.  They wore masks, carried guns, robbed the place and ran.

Another robbery happened Saturday night just around closing time at Bubba’s Too off 15th Street E.

"They were yelling, they told everybody to stay on the floor or they would shoot us," said a bartender at Bubba's Too. "They yelled, ‘Where is the money? I know you have more.'”

The bartender was so shaken from the experience she didn't want to be identified.  She told FOX 13 that she had one thought on her mind as a gun was pointed to her head.

"Just do whatever you've got to do. Don't hurt anyone," she said.

This is the third robbery of its kind in the last week.  There have been four since September 20, and nearly a dozen going back to spring.

"These guys have no remorse and they don't care," said Grier Buckingham, a bar patron.

Since April, masked men carrying guns have been hitting bars around closing time.

Surveillance video shows the gunmen forcing customers to give up their cell phones and are roughed up if they don’t comply.

Guns are often held to people's heads and it always ends with the men grabbing cash and leaving.

"It is going to come down to somebody getting shot and possibly dying before it stops," said Buckingham.

Manatee deputies met with bar owners and patrons about it Monday night.

"We need to get these people in jail right away. We are working this thing 24/7," said Dave Bristow with the sheriff's office.  "We are getting some leads, but we need more. We need the public's help here.".

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Anyone with any information is asked to call MCSO at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.