Clerk opens fire after suspects smash into gas station to steal ATM, police say

Houston police are searching for several suspects they said purposefully crashed into a south Houston service station to steal an ATM but fled when the clerk began shooting at them. Houston police are searching for several suspects they said purposefully crashed into a south Houston service station to steal an ATM but fled when the clerk began shooting at them. Photo: OnScene.TV Photo: OnScene.TV Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Clerk opens fire after suspects smash into gas station to steal ATM, police say 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Police are searching for several suspects they said purposefully crashed into a south Houston service station to steal an ATM, but fled when the clerk began shooting at them.

The incident occurred at the Valero at the 8100 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard around 2:11 a.m. when a white truck smashed into the side wall of the gas station and at least four men rushed into the store, Houston Police Officer R. Wilkins said.

The truck then drove forward outside of the store before reversing back into the store, crashing into it for a second time, Wilkins said.

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That's when the store clerk came out from the office and opened fire on the suspects, who fled on foot leaving the truck behind, Wilkins said.

Customers were inside the store when the trucked smashed through the wall, but they were not hurt, Wilkins said.

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Police, who reviewed surveillance footage, have an idea of who the suspects are, but the investigation is ongoing.

Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | michelle.iracheta@chron.com