An attack by a ukulele-wielding shoplifter left a convenience store employee battered and bloodied Tuesday evening in West Seattle.

Around 9:15 pm, two suspects—a white male and a white female, both around 22 years old—walked into a gas station near Delridge Way SW and SW Myrtle Street and tried to shoplift a six-pack of Olde English beer.

A store employee confronted the suspects, ordered them to put the beer back, and then told them he was calling 911.

The male suspect argued with the employee and then hit him over the head with a ukulele, shattering the instrument and cutting the victim’s scalp.

When officers arrived on scene, they found the employee bleeding profusely from the back of his head. The suspects had fled.

Officers were only able to get a vague description of the suspects from the victim—who was taken to Highline Hospital for treatment—but the case has been forwarded to the Robbery Unit for more investigation.

If you have any information which might help detectives find the suspects, please contact the Robbery Unit at (206) 684-5540.