Police are trying to identify a man who assaulted a St. Paul store clerk during a fight over his gun when he tried to rob a convenience store earlier this month.

A clerk at AA Avenue Grocery, 682 Selby Ave., was locking the front door at closing time 10 p.m. on June 8 when a masked man forced the door open and ran inside, police said today.

The man had a handgun and demanded money from the clerk, chasing him toward the back of the store. They fought over the gun and the suspect assaulted the clerk.

During the fight, the clerk pulled off the man’s mask. The clerk grabbed a can of food from a shelf and struck the suspect on the head, police said.

The suspect kept punching the clerk as they moved toward the front of the store, where the clerk was able to get the suspect out. He locked the door and call police.

The clerk didn’t need medical attention, though he had cuts and scrapes on his head, hands and knees, police said.

The suspect is described as a black man, 18 to 20 years old, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a medium build and short, curly hair. He was wearing a black jacket or sweatshirt with a hood, blue jeans and a black mask.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 651-266-5650.

Police released surveillance tape of the attempted robbery and struggle.