CHICAGO — A liquor store employee exchanged gunfire with two men who tried to rob him Wednesday night in West Rogers Park, Chicago police said. No one was injured in the shootout, but the victim was seriously injured when one of the robbers hit him in the head with a bottle.
The robbery began around 10:31 p.m. at California Liquors, 6343 North California Avenue.
Police said two offenders demanded money from the register while pointing guns at the 44-year-old cashier. During a struggle with the employee, one of the robbers hit the victim in the head with a glass bottle he grabbed from the store.
At that point, the cashier pulled out a gun and exchanged shots with the robbers, who fled.
CPD said the victim is in serious condition at St. Francis Hospital.
Officers at the scene described the suspects as two males wearing black clothing, each armed with a handgun.
Monday night’s incident is the second time in two weeks that shots have been fired during a liquor store robbery in West Rogers Park.
On October 24, two armed men tried to rob Issha Liquors, 2901 West Devon, around 10:28 p.m., but the store’s two employees refused to cooperate, according to CPD.
Police said the robbers pistol-whipped the workers, ages 65 and 49, and one offender fired a shot toward a beverage cooler. No one was struck by the bullet, but both victims were taken to Swedish Hospital for cuts on the head.
An officer who reviewed surveillance video at Issha Liquors said the robbers were Black males between 14 and 19 years old wearing black clothing.
Seven liquor stores were robbed on October 14, from Logan Square to Jefferson Park to North Center. Some victims reported that the men were wearing yellow gloves.
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