Sheriff believes Mississippi casino robbers had inside help

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2000 | 8:37 a.m.

Three masked men carrying semiautomatic weapons burst into the casino on Monday. After getting the money, the robbers met three other men in a car and fled.

The casinos employees handed over the money. The patrons were not robbed.

No shots were fired, but one person was injured when he was struck in the mouth by a robber. The robbers took only five or six minutes to complete the crime.

"Inside people had to know something about this," Ellington said. "Whether they were directly involved or knew of it, they were in on it. The robbers had to know the security operations because they moved so quickly."

It was unclear how the masked men were able to pass security and enter the casino's front door.

Mark Fulton, general manager of the Isle of Capri Casino, would not comment on the robbery.

"We're letting the authorities handle it," he said.

The casino opened in July 1999 in a building formally operated by Harrah's Casino. It's the first time the casino has been robbed, Fulton said.

Ellington said officers have broadened their search for the six robbers. He suspects the bandits were not local.

Ellington said he also will increase patrols at Tunica County's 10 casinos in the wake of the holdup.