Bartender fends off would-be robber, is shot

A gunman burst into a Seattle restaurant early Wednesday intent on robbing it, but instead found himself in a struggle with a bartender.

The robber shot the 23-year-old bartender once in the arm and fled without any money.

Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said Robbery Unit detectives believe that the gunman may be responsible for at least three other recent robberies.

Wednesday's robbery attempt occurred about 1 a.m. at Serafina, a restaurant in the 2000 block of Eastlake Avenue East.

The robber, wearing a purple bandana, entered and immediately demanded money. He argued briefly with the bartender and then the two struggled. That's when the gunman shot the bartender and took off.

Two other people in the bar witnessed the struggle. Whitcomb said they were able to provide valuable information to detectives.

A K-9 officer and dog tried but failed to track the gunman.

The name of the bartender was not released.

Last week, two pizzerias in North Seattle were robbed, and a third robbery was committed in Shoreline The King County Sheriff's Office in investigating the Shoreline robbery.