Circle A clerk beaten with sticks, robbed on Spruill Avenue

A man was beaten with sticks and robbed in front of a convenience store on Spruill Avenue early Tuesday morning.

A Circle A clerk told police a customer complained about four men hanging around outside the convenience store about 3 a.m.

The clerk went outside to look around, but did not see anyone, police spokesman Spencer Pryor said. When he checked again few minutes later, four black men dressed in all black with hoodies over their heads approached him.

The clerk told police the men hit him with sticks and stole his money.

It is unknown how much money was taken, Pryor said.

Three of the men ran toward Clements Avenue and the fourth ran toward Burton Lane, Pryor said.

After he was robbed, the clerk told police he grabbed his pistol from inside the store and fired several shots in the air.

The robbery is still under investigation, Pryor said.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 554-1111.