Claire M Roney

The Republic | azcentral.com

An armed customer exchanged fire with an armed robber who held up two Phoenix convenience stores early Wednesday morning and shot two clerks, police said.

The clerks and the customer sustained non-life-threatening injuries, Phoenix police Sgt. Vincent Lewis said in a statement.

A 7-Eleven in east-central Phoenix and a Circle K in west-central Phoenix were robbed at gunpoint about 1 a.m. Wednesday by a man wearing a red bandanna and armed with a handgun, Lewis said.

About 12:45 a.m., the robber entered a 7-Eleven at 2401 E. McDowell Road, Lewis said.

Shots were fired and the clerk was struck. The robber fled the 7-Eleven in what appeared to be a red newer-model four-door sedan with light-colored trim on the driver's side, Lewis said.

The clerk suffered non-life threatening injuries, Lewis said.

About 1:15 a.m., the robber entered a Circle K at 2344 W. Thomas Road. Shots were fired and the clerk was struck.

A customer inside the store was armed and exchanged fire with the robber, Lewis said.

The customer was struck during the exchange.

All victims were transported to local hospitals and were expected to survive, Lewis said.

Investigators were expected to be at both stores throughout the morning.

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