Exclusive: Check cashing employee recalls being held at gunpoint in Houston heist

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two men who held up a check cashing business on Monday in southwest Houston are on the run and police want your help to find them.

The robbery happened in the 6600 block of Ashcroft and the Envios Y Mas store around 8am.

Police say when an employee was opening the business, she saw a man she recognized as a regular customer outside the store. He told her he needed to send money and followed her inside, but then pulled a gun and forced her to open drawers while he took money.

Police say another employee arrived and tried to run away when she realized the store was being robbed, but was forced back inside the store by a lookout.

Both employees were eventually forced to the back of and tied up. It's unclear how long they were tied up until they were discovered.

The men, who are only described as Hispanic by police, fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.

One of those victims spoke to Eyewitness News exclusively and told us they are back to work and have posted fliers of the suspects.

One of those victims who identified herself only as Keylin said, "He put us on the floor. He started screaming at us with the gun. He put the gun on the head and the body. Then my friend she was screaming, 'Don't kill me. Please don't kill me! I've got a daughter.'"

Houston Police Officer Jennifer Medel said, "The difference between a robbery and a murder is a split second - just a centimeter from somebody being injured or killed and I don't think they understand the consequences of that."

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Robbery Division at 713-308-0700 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.