CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – University Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Friday morning at an on-campus bar. 

The incident prompted a campuswide Illini-Alert emergency notification sent to all students, faculty and staff.

University Police officers were dispatched to Joe’s Brewery, 706 S Fifth St., Champaign, at 1:01 a.m. for reports of an armed robbery. The first officer was on scene in one minute. 

Once on scene, officers spoke with the victims, who stated a man entered the business through the exit, pointed a gun at an employee standing at the cash register, grabbed money from the register, and left the area through the same exit door. 

The suspect pointed the gun at three employees, but there were no shots fired or injuries. 

The investigation is ongoing. University Police are patrolling the area, and investigators are reviewing security cameras and automated license plate readers to locate additional evidence. Police continue to seek any video or photo evidence collected by witnesses. 
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the University of Illinois Police Department at 217-333-1216. Witnesses may remain anonymous by calling Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477 (373-TIPS), by visiting 373tips.com or by providing information through the P3 Tips mobile app available on iOS and Android. All messages to Crime Stoppers are electronically stripped of identifying information and forwarded to police by an independent third party.