Iqaluit RCMP seek Quickstop armed robbery suspect

The Apex Rd. Quickstop, which contains a convenience store and gas bar, suffered an armed robbery Jan. 10. (FILE PHOTO)

Iqaluit RCMP are seeking a suspect who used a handgun to rob a Quickstop convenience store on the Apex Rd., late in the afternoon of Jan. 10.

Described as an Inuk male, about five feet six inches tall, the robber entered the store at about 4:15 p.m., approached the cashier at the register where he “produced a weapon, and received an undisclosed amount of cash,” Const. Malcolm McNeil told Nunatsiaq News, Jan. 12.

Police would not say whether the suspect was a youth or an adult.

The suspect wore a “balaclava-style ski mask with red and white markings” during the hold-up, and was “said to be wearing a black hoodie and black snowpants,” McNeil said.

For the purposes of the investigation, police would not report what kind of weapon the suspect used in the hold-up, although they did confirm “a description was given,” said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Yvonne Niego.

“It was a handgun, that much I do know,” store supervisor Bonnie Ellner told Nunatsiaq News.

The store has video footage of the robbery, she said, which they have provided to investigators.

Ellner said three Quickstop employees were on duty at the time of the robbery.

“One was in the back and two were out here,” working at or near the registers, she said.

“It was the guy behind the cash who got held up,” Ellner said.

The other employee locked the store’s front door and immediately called police after the suspect made off with cash from the register, she said. Ellner came to the store shortly afterwards.

Police are investigating.

“It’s just two days in, it’s still very early,” McNeil said of the investigation. “The neighbourhood has been canvassed, and [police investigators] have interviewed all the staff that was involved, and they’re looking at identifying suspects.”

Iqaluit RCMP are calling on members of the public who may have information on the suspect to call the detachment, or contact Crime Stoppers.