A masked bandit who police say helped rob a San Bernardino liquor store on Christmas was shot by armed citizens. The suspect, a juvenile, is not expected to survive, a police department news release states.

Shortly before 2:10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 25, two juveniles with bandanas covering their faces entered the liquor store at 484 S. Rancho Ave. in San Bernardino.

One of the robbers, armed with a black handgun that was later determined to be a BB gun, demanded money from a clerk.

San Bernardino police Lt. Richard Lawhead said the two clerks, “fearing for their lives, armed themselves and shot” the suspect with pistols they had stashed under the counter. Lawhead said it is not against the law for a storekeeper to stow a gun, adding the shooters were “legally permitted” to carry weapons.

The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle and were detained by Colton police a short distance away.

The injured suspect was hit multiple times. He was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he “was not expected to recover from his wounds,” the release states.

All four juvenile suspects are being held on suspicion of armed robbery, the release states. Their names are being withheld pending further investigation.

The suspects are also being investigated for possible ties to other area crimes, Lawhead said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Houser or Sgt. Sullivan of the San Bernardino Police Department, at 909-384-5615.