Clerk starts scuffle with armed robbers

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Shots rang out during a gas station robbery in Hartford. The clerk decided to fight back as two men tried to rob the store.

In a surveillance video, two masked gunman ran from the gas station after a brazen, broad daylight armed robbery goes wrong. It happened just before 3 Thursday afternoon as school kids were getting off the bus.

Two men held the owner at gun point and tried to rob the store but the owner grabbed the gun and a scuffle broke out.

Shots rung out and as the men ran from the store more shots were fired. Bullets riddled the store and the neighborhood.

"One of our trucks got hit in the drivers side of the door so if one of our guys was eating lunch at that time, one of us could have easily been shot," said Justin Green.

There was one family sitting in their car at the pump when they heard the shots go off. Their son was across the street getting off the school bus and walking toward the gas station when the two masked men went running toward their son.

"The first thing I was thinking was where's my son, where's my son because my daughter was already in the car," said Alma Lopez.

"I heard the gun shots from there and as soon as I got here I seen two black guys running out," said Jose Lopez Jr.

"When I see my son running to the car banging on the window. When I see him banging on the window that is when I opened the doors quickly and that's when we you know, let my son in the car and he was like there was a shooting in the store, there was a shooting in the store. I think they robbed the gas station," said Alma Lopez.

No one was shot but the owner went to the hospital because he cut his hand as he grabbed for the gun. Neighbors called 911 as they ducked the bullets.

"He had an all black sweater, hoodie, mask and walking, you know, put it inside it," said Jose Lopez.

"You saw him put the gun in his pocket," asked News 8's Bob Wilson.

"Exactly. I see everything," said Lopez.