SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Ryan Long is not just the manager of the Hungry Howie’s in Altamonte Springs, he is also one of the owners.
What You Need To Know
- Hungry Howie's Hostage Was Co-Owner of Store
- Neil Pittard who held Ryan Long hostage was a regular customer
- Ryan Long was back at work less than 24 hours after being held hostage for several hours
He runs this Hungry Howie's location with his father. On Monday night, and early into Tuesday morning, he was a hostage inside his own store.
Long was held hostage by a regular customer of his pizza place, Neil Pittard. According to Long, he didn’t know Pittard well, but admits he saw him often buying pizzas. Pittard took the store owner hostage late Monday.
Long was back at work Tuesday, making pizza’s inside the same Hungry Howie’s he was being held as a hostage at less than 24 hours ago.
Less than 24 hours after being held hostage, the @hungryhowies manager / co-owner of a store in @CityofAltamonte was back at work making pizzas again. Says he's fine & that he was not injured. I spoke with Ryan Long this evening & will have a full report tonight @ 10 on @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/hBgjxYCU7F
— Spectrum News Asher Wildman (@AsherWildman13) April 20, 2022
“We all got out ok,” Long says from behind the counter Tuesday before the dinner rush. “Just wanted to get back to work and keep things going and start making pizzas again.”
Throughout the night, Ryan at times could be seen with Pittard close by. According to Ryan, he was not injured nor were any of his employees who were let go earlier in the night.
“It was just a long night,” Long states. “It was a difficult situation, we all got out safe. Everyone is ok so we all feel good and are ready to get back to work.”
That’s what Ryan is doing one day after being a hostage. Taking orders, making pizzas, and as he says, getting back to normal.
His Monday night was anything but normal. He used his cell phone to communicate between law enforcement and Pittard, and tried to keep the hostage-taker talking.
“We were here for a long time talking, so I was trying to keep things calm, police were patient,” Long explains. “Obviously he has some mental problems, [I was] just trying to keep him calm.”
Ryan admits there was always some fear as the time was passing by Monday night, and into Tuesday morning, but says he was not hurt.
“Customers are coming back,” Long says. “We are all safe, we are all feeling good. Employees are all happy to be back.” And so is Ryan Long.