Man charged after firing shots inside Brooklyn post office during attempted robbery
The suspect in the post office shooting is also suspected of a robbery attempt at a check cashing business, sources say
MIDWOOD, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Police have charged a man wanted for firing shots inside a Post Office in Brooklyn during an attempted robbery on Monday.
Police said the suspect attempted to rob the Midwood Post Office around 1:15 p.m., demanding money from the clerk at the counter.
Police say the suspect didn't point his gun at the worker behind the window, but instead put a gun to a 37-year-old customer's back who was standing at the counter.
A witness told Eyewitness News that the female customer screamed very loudly.
Towler fired multiple shots as he fled the post office, police said.
No one was struck, and the suspect made off on a black moped northbound on Coney Island Avenue.
Detectives believe the suspect then tried to hold up a check-cashing business shortly after, about 2 and a half miles away on Utica Avenue in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn.
Police said the suspect of the attempted robbery at the check-cashing business matched the description of the suspect who fired at least four shots inside the Midwood Post Office.
A customer who was inside the check-cashing store and driving one of the damaged cars that got into an accident with the suspect said he was waiting to cash a check when the alleged robber demanded money from the workers and threatened to kill the customers.
"At the moment, I felt I said this is my life. I'm going to die. When he said I'm going to kill everybody inside if you don't give me the money," the customer, who did not want to be identified, said.
The customer said the robber tried to use his gun to break a door inside to get to the money, but when he did that, the gun's magazine fell out and bullets spilled onto the floor.
It was the perfect opportunity for the customer to make a run for it and get into his car.
He said the alleged robber chased and got on his moped.
"And I tried to avoid him, and we got in the accident," the customer said.
He said seconds later, when he says the moped tried to go around him, they crashed.
"After that accident, I run after him, grab him, and fight. Yeah, we fight," the customer said.
He says he and another man held the suspect for the cops.
"One day he might kill people. That's why I ran after him," the customer said.
37-year-old Travis Towler was charged with robbery, criminal mischief, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, and menacing, police said.
Sources say Towler is suspected of firing the shots at the Midwood post office, but the investigation continues.
Somehow, during the violent crime spree, no one was hurt.
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