Police are investigating a bold robbery that happened Sunday evening at a Safeway on South Royal Street in Alexandria.
One shot was fired inside the store, and a customer suffered a minor graze wound in the incident.
Police said it all began when two to three suspects entered the store, at 500 S. Royal St., at around 8:30 p.m. and demanded cash. The store clerk compiled, but during the encounter, one robber fired a shot before they fled the store.
"They got money, and during the altercation one of the suspects fired a shot and one of the customers was minorly injured," said Crystal Nosal of Alexandria Police.
A couple and their six-year-old son encountered the fleeing robbers as they drove into the store's parking lot.
"The one with the handgun was running right toward us and lifted his hand to point the gun at us," said the father of the family, who asked that his name not be used. "That's when my wife said, 'He's got' a gun. So I hit the gas and and ran right by him [and] got out of the parking lot as soon as possible."
The witness said he got a good look at what they were wearing, but couldn't see their faces because they were wearing what looked like ski masks.
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The suspects are still at large. Police searched for them Sunday night and into Monday morning, including searching with a police helicopter around Alexandria Sunday.
Police say violent crime is rare in Old Town and they want to make sure armed robbers don't get away with this one.
