A trio wearing Halloween masks is accused of shooting a gas station clerk in the neck during an attempted robbery early Thursday morning in Paulding County, according to police.
The three made off only with cigarettes, but investigators believe they may be linked to other crimes in the area.
Three men, who have not yet been identified, attempted to rob the Citgo Quick Stop on Merchant’s Drive around 5:45 a.m., Sgt. Bill Gorman with Dallas police told The AJC. Store employee Danzil Crasto grabbed a chair to defend himself, but was shot in the neck by one of two gunmen, Gorman said.
The bullet entered and exited the side of Crasto’s neck, and the injury was non-life threatening, according to police. Crasto was in stable condition after being taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.
Investigators had not yet reviewed security camera footage late Thursday morning, Gorman said. But Crasto told police the three men were wearing masks, including a skull, Spiderman and “Jason” hockey mask.
“The way they were disguised, it doesn’t give us much to work with,” Gorman said. “They had their faces totally concealed.”
The men stole cigarettes before running to a car parked on Merchant’s Drive, according to police.
Another store employee, Betty Green, told The AJC the owners wanted to keep the store closed Thursday after the shooting. But Green said she told them she wanted to work and send a message to those responsible for injuring her co-worker.
“I’m fighting back,” Green said.
Crasto is a hard worker and is eager to return to his job, but Green said she hopes he takes time off to recover. Regular customers stopped by the store after news reports of the shooting.
The shooting remains under investigation.
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