By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington pawn shop owner robbed and beaten at gunpoint last Wednesday is sharing his first-hand account.

Michael Moss owns the McLean County Exchange pawn shop in Bloomington. He says two men came into his shop last Wednesday, pretending to sell him something. When Moss turned around, he says they jumped him, and a struggle ensued.

“They wrestled me to the ground right here, and then they pistol-whipped me with the Uzi,” Moss said.

Two shots were fired during the struggle, but Moss left with his life after the gun jammed. He counts himself lucky to be alive, but still suffered serious injuries from the encounter, including a black eye, five stitches in his head, and a lot of bruising. He spent four days at an area hospital.

“There was just blood all over the place here,” Moss said. “I lost more blood than I thought I had.”

Moss has dozens of cameras in his store, and a secret alarm system that he used to call police. It’s the first time the 30-year shop owner has ever hit the silent alarm.

Police say the pair, described as Black or Hispanic males in their twenties, drove off in a rare Cadillac ATS, made between 2013 and 2018. The car has darkly-tinted windows, plus stolen items and cash inside.

“We have great video, and we have great pictures of the vehicle,” Bloomington Police Public Information Officer Brandt Parsley said. “There’s no way that someone in the community doesn’t know who these people are.”

Moss is offering his own $1,000 reward for information, set on bringing the suspects to justice.

“It’s just a matter of time before the police pick you up,” Moss said.

You can call Bloomington Police Detective Paul Jones at 309-434-2548 or [email protected]. You can submit an anonymous tip at (309)-434-2963 or [email protected].

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].