Police are looking for a man who struck a store employee with the claw of a hammer Tuesday evening.
An 18-year-old employee at the Polo Ralph Lauren store in the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets was escorting a customer to a fitting room when the customer pulled out a 6-inch hammer and struck the victim in the neck with the claw end.
"Who carries something like that around?" asked a shopper on Wednesday.
The victim was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital with puncture wounds in his neck. He is in stable condition, police said.
The suspect dropped the hammer as he fled the store and ran in the direction of the parking lot.
He is described as a white male in his early 20s. He is between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weighing 155 to 165 pounds. He was last seen wearing tan shorts, dark socks, brown shoes, a green and orange checked shirt, a green and white hat with a white emblem on the front and sunglasses.
Lessburg Corner Premium Outlets management and security are working alongside local authorities.
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The wounded employee is hospitalized in stable condition. He is expected to recover.
"The employees who were there to see it -- I can just imagine how terrified they must have been," said a worker at a nearby store. "I can't imagine that happening in my store."
Leesburg Police ask anyone with information to contact them immediately at 703-443-4500. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call the Leesburg Crime Line at (703) 443-TIPS (8477). Tips can be sent by text, email or smartphone by texting LPDTIP plus your message to 274637.
