Suspects Rob Philadelphia Gas Station, Then Remain For Hours Selling Gas

Police are looking for three suspects who shot the clerk of a southwest Philadelphia gas station, then ordered him to stay in the bathroom while they sold gas to customers.

The suspects robbed the Hess Gas station on Island Avenue after they shot the 18-year-old clerk at around 1 a.m. Monday morning. But they most likely thought they did not steal enough money, and remained at the gas station for several hours as they sold gas to unsuspecting customers, CBS Philadelphia reported. Police are baffled at the gunmen's ability to pull such a stunt, escaping the scene before the incident was reported at around 4:30 a.m.

"In my career, that's the first time I've seen or heard something like this occur," Philadelphia Police Department Lieutenant John Walker told CBS Philadelphia. "Obviously they probably didn't feel like they got enough money, so they're going to sit there, take control of the business, offer gas at a discounted price and try to get additional money which is just bizarre."

The store clerk remained in the bathroom for two hours after they shot him in the head. The bullet only grazed the teenager's head, and he was treated at a hospital and later released. The victim's father told the station his son thought the suspects were deliverymen.

"He said the first guy came in, he seen the shirt and he thought it was one of the deliveries. The second guy came in with a gun to his head. Next thing you know, he tried to hit him and the gun went off," the father said.

Police say the suspects could be the same ones who robbed another Hess station a few days before the Monday incident. In the first robbery the suspects also posed as deliverymen, CBS Philadelphia reported. There were no surveillance cameras in both robberies, police said.

Hess told CBS Philadelphia they are cooperating with authorities, but "for security reasons, the company's safety measures cannot be discussed publicly."

Police are asking for customers who might have bought gas from the suspects to come forward.

"That's real bold," the clerk's father told CBS Philadelphia. "I just don't understand that one."