New Haven clerk shot during robbery

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) -- A clerk working at Walt’s Package Store in New Haven was shot during a robbery Saturday night.

New Haven Police were dispatched to the store, at 451 Columbus Avenue, around 8:30 p.m. Saturday night, to investigate a robbery and the report of a shooting.

When police arrived on scene they found Rakeshkumar Patel, the 41-year-old store clerk, suffering from a gun shot wound to the chest.

Patel told police that that two thin masked men, each about 5'10", confronted him in the store and demanded money.  The two robbers took a few dollars before one shot Patel in the chest.

The victim was taken to Yale New Haven hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He remains in critical, but stable condition.

Police are still searching for the two men involved in the robbery.