About five masked gunmen brazenly entered a south-side church Wednesday night and robbed dozens of women and children, physically forcing some to the ground and taking their purses.
The robbers pointed their guns at the women who were gathered for a meeting at Ministerios Dios Es Mi Fuerza (God is My Strength Ministries) at 3918 S. Sixth Ave., said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a Tucson Police Department spokesman. The church is on storefront property south of Ajo Way.
Some of the women suffered minor injuries.
No one was taken to a hospital, but some went on their own to seek medical attention, Dugan said.
Shortly after 7 p.m., officers were sent to the church to a report of robbers and learned that the men had fled in two vehicles.
There were between 35 and 50 women attending a faith-based, interdenominational group meeting when the masked men entered the building.
The gun-wielding men began βshouting at the victims, telling them to get on the floor,β Dugan said.
βThey demanded that the women give up their purses and were running around gathering the pursesβ before they left the church, he said.
The robbers, who spoke in Spanish and English, were believed to be in their late teens to early 20s, Dugan said. Investigators did not release descriptions of the robbers or of their vehicles.
After the robbers left the church, many of the terrified victims left in their cars without remaining to be questioned by police, said Dugan.
Detectives are asking victims to call 520-589-8846, a special message line to leave information about the robbery. Information can be left in English or Spanish, Dugan said.
βWe are reaching out to the public to call 88-CRIME with any information they may have,β said Dugan, adding that witnesses also may leave information on the special message line set up by detectives.
