LOWER EAST SIDE (WABC) -- A deli worker was grazed in the leg during an attempted armed robbery at a Lower East Side deli early Thursday morning, police said.
The shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. inside a deli on Rivington Street.
The 25-year-old employee, who identified himself as Ace, said he had been working at the store for about a month when what started as a routine overnight shift suddenly turned violent.
According to Ace, the suspect entered the deli looking to buy candy and chips but did not have enough money to pay. He said the man waited until the worker was distracted before pulling out a gun and attempting to rob the store.
During the encounter, Ace was grazed in the upper leg. He said he received medical treatment and is recovering.
Investigators spent Thursday morning going in and out of the deli collecting evidence as they searched for the gunman.
Police said the suspect fled the scene on foot. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, black shorts and white sneakers.
Despite the shooting, Ace said the deli is already equipped with multiple security measures, including buzzers, panic buttons and surveillance cameras.
The investigation remains ongoing. No arrests have been made.
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