Shots fired during early-morning robbery above Czech Village bar

CEDAR RAPIDS - Two men with guns robbed three men of their billfolds above a Cedar Rapids bar early Wednesday morning.

Police responded around 1:20 a.m. to the apartment above Red Baron Bar and Dance Club, 62 16th Ave. SW, where the men said they were robbed. Police said two of the men suffered minor injuries in the incident.

According to the police report, Adam Miller, 32, Bart Earsa, 26, and Christopher Murray, 30, were leaving the bar to go to the upstairs apartment when they were confronted by two men with handguns who "demanded their property." Police said the three victims tried to get into the apartment, but couldn't shut the door and the suspects came in, too.

Police were told one of the men fired two gunshots at the ceiling as a scare tactic. Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said investigators were unable to find any evidence of shots fired, though.

After taking the billfolds from each man, both suspects hit Miller several times with the handguns, police said. He was treated for head, face and eye injuries at Mercy Medical Center and released, Hamblin said. Murray was struck with a bottle or cup during the incident and later treated by medics at the scene for a cut to his head.

The suspects were described as two black men, both about 5-foot-9, in their mid-20s to 30s. One wore a red bandanna across his face and the other had on a blue bandanna.

Investigators were hoping to use surveillance video from the bar to identify the suspects. No arrests had been made by Wednesday afternoon. Police said the investigation was continuing.

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