NASHUA, N.H. (WHDH) — A father and son tried to rob a New Hampshire bingo hall and threatened to blow it up. This happened as the Eagles Wing Function Center was packed with people there to play bingo Saturday night.
“He came right in, went right into the office and said, 'This is a holdup. Put all of the money in this bag’,” said one witness.
Players said Charles Preston went into the back office where employees were counting money.
Officers said he pointed a gun at the workers, demanded cash and said he had a bomb strapped to his chest.
“I heard a blood-curdling scream and a lot of us just jumped up because my first inclination was to run and see if anybody needed some help. Once I heard he had a gun, my heart started beating so quickly and I thought, 'Okay, Deb. You are not going to be caught dead in a bingo hall because of a gunshot’,” said another witness, Deb.
But investigators said employees took matters into their own hands.
While Preston tried to stash the money, a worker took the gun, which turned out to be a fake.
There was a struggle, but volunteers managed to pin down Preston and hold him until police arrived.
His son Justin had been waiting outside. Police arrested both men and the players, well they kept on playing.
“Either people are getting desperate or they're stupid or something,” said Deb.
A police officer had been in the parking lot when the call came in. He had already noticed Justin Preston seemed suspicious. When the call came, he was ready to act.
Investigators also say that there were never any explosives.