A local pool league’s joy turned to dismay as armed robbers stole $50,000 meant for bills and gifts, leaving over 100 players without their hard-earned prize.
SEGUIN, Texas — What should have been a celebration for a local pool league ended in an armed robbery.
Seguin police say suspects targeted an end-of-season 8-ball banquet Saturday, stealing the league’s prize money.
Tonight, investigators are searching for at least two suspects.
Members of the Seguin 8-ball pool league tell me they’ve been working all year…putting in their own money in, to help with the prize fund…
Now, around 50-thousand dollars is gone.
With the 8-ball pool league for around three years, Juan Javier Villa said a lot of people use the prize money for Christmas gifts or bills. But not this year.
A witness to the robbery, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the robbery happened in the parking lot of the bar where they had their event at off FM 467.
The person in charge of the money was supposed to bring the cash prize to the event.
Police say a masked gunman took a large amount of cash…the prize money collected for the league’s end-of-season banquet before driving off westbound on FM 467 in a dark-colored SUV.
The victim told police he was robbed at gunpoint by someone wearing all black and a mask.
Investigators believe at least two suspects were involved.
“There’s a lot of anger,” Jaview Villa said.
Javier Villa said every week his team and around twenty others put 50 dollars into play in the weeks-long tournament.
“33 weeks of commitment, it’s just nice to see something in return, you just wouldn’t expect that to happen, but it did.”
Now over 100 players will go without that cash prize.
This case remains under active investigation by the Seguin Police Department, and this is all the information that will be released at this time.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, observed suspicious activity in the area, or has information related to this robbery is encouraged to contact the Seguin Police Department at (830) 379-2123.
Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling (830) 620-TIPS (8477) or by visiting www.gccrimestoppers.com. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.
Members of the public may also upload any video evidence directly to the Seguin Police Department at this link.