Contractor ‘literally scared to death’ during robbery, police chief says

Site staff by Site Contributor











The death of contract worker who died from a medical emergency during a robbery a burger restaurant on Madison’s west side Tuesday is being investigated as a homicide, Madison’s police said.

During a news conference about the 3 a.m.-robbery at Culver’s, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval called the crime vile and despicable and said one victim was “literally scared to the point of death.”

Police said four men were working on a remodeling project at about 3 a.m. inside the restaurant at 2102 W. Beltline Highway when two masked, armed men entered the restaurant.

One of the robbers targeted the restaurant’s safe while the other held the four men at gunpoint, police said.

Koval said the robbers held the men captive for up to an hour as they worked to find and open the safe.

Koval said that once they were able to get into the safe, it was clear the 56-year-old man was having a medical emergency, but the other workers weren’t allowed to aid the man.

“An emergency of such a nature that people should … have been able to call and do some basic self-help mechanisms when it became clear that this person was in significant distress,” Koval said. “What did these armed robbers do? They allowed the man to languish, and subsequently, to die while they handed themselves the greater priority of dipping into the safe and getting their filthy lucre, or what I call blood money.”

In a statement Tuesday, Culver’s called the crime “senseless.”

“Our prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims of this senseless crime,” the statement said. “Our hope is that the perpetrators will soon be in custody and brought to justice.”

According to the statement, the restaurant will re-open when authorities have concluded their investigation.

The cause of death is under investigation, but it is being considered a homicide. An official cause of death will come from the coroner, Koval said.

Police said none of the victims are from Dane County. The men who survived the incident are 22, 33 and 34, according to the report.

The contractors were working on a floor tiling project when the robbers entered through the back door, Koval said.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.