A well-known Montgomery business owner was violently assaulted, bound, and robbed at gunpoint last week.

According to WAKA 8, Jim Massey III was at his business, Jim Massey’s Cleaners, when the incident happened.

Massey recounted that he heard a loud crash while in his office and stepped out into the hallway to see what caused the noise. That’s when he said he saw a man coming towards him in what appeared to be construction gear followed by three others also wearing hard hats and reflective construction vests.

“This guy comes walking fast, jogging down the hallway, and said, ‘We’ve accidentally run a car into your front door,’” Massey said. “But then he got closer. I realized he had on a mask, goggles, and a hat. And about that time, there was a second one behind him. They both grabbed me and behind them were two more guys. They said, ‘Let’s go to the safe. Take us to the safe.’ And I said, ‘OK.’ They had a gun. There were four of them. I did not have a gun—probably, thank goodness.”

Massey was struck by one of the criminals during the ordeal resulting in a black eye and a chipped tooth. After falling because of the blow, a gun was placed on the top of his head.

“I was standing upright, and the guy was holding my arms up. When he hit me, I fell down, but the guy holding my arms kind of kept me up. So then I’m in a squatted position trying to figure out what the heck just happened. And as I’m kind of half kneeling, he puts the gun on top of my head and said, ‘If you don’t tell us the combination, I’m going to blow your blankety-blank head off, and I’ll do it.’ My life didn’t flash before my eyes, but my wife and two kids—they were the three people that came to mind.”

Massey was then zip-tied by the suspects before they fled the scene.

“He zip-tied my feet real tight and then they asked for my car keys,” Massey said. “I pointed to where they were. They got the car keys. They still had my phone, and they took off. I hopped over to my desk where I keep a pocket knife. I cut the (zip-tie) off my feet and called the police.

The business owner is grateful to be alive after the robbery.

“I think people need to realize—because I sure didn’t—that it can happen to anybody, anywhere.”

Authorities are continuing to investigate the case. On Friday, CrimeStoppers announced a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to the identification of the four suspects.

So far, no arrests have been made.

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten