Police are conducting an investigation after a Palo Alto smoke shop owner was pistol-whipped during a robbery late Thursday.
At around 9:54 p.m., the Palo Alto Police Department received a call from Raw Smoke Shop at 265 California Ave. reporting that the clerk had been pistol-whipped and robbed by a group of eight suspects, officials reported.
The clerk, a man in his fifties, was the only person in the store at the time of the robbery. At least two suspects were holding handguns, police said. One suspect ordered the victim to the ground and another pistol-whipped him in the back of the head.
The suspects fled the scene with merchandise and the entire cash register, containing an unknown amount of money, police said. The victim suffered minor injuries to his head, but refused medical attention.
It is unknown if the suspects left on foot or in a vehicle. The clerk told police he believed most of the suspects were Black and added that they were all wearing face coverings.
Anyone with information is asked to call 650-329-2413.
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