A clerk at Columbia Food Mart was taken to a hospital Saturday after he was hit in the face with a gun during an aggravated robbery, authorities said.
Officers responded at about 4 p.m. to the convenience store at 5530 Columbia Ave.
A robber pointed a gun at the clerk, 47-year-old Samuel Yemane, and demanded money. The robber then fired at Yemane and hit him with the gun, according to the police report.
Yeman was not injured in the shooting, but he was taken to a hospital to get stitches on his face, where he was hit with the gun.
The robber fled on food without taking any property.
Neighbor Laura Ostteen created a GoFundMe for the beloved clerk. It has raised more than $1,200.
“Sammy is a well-known fixture in our community,” Ostteen wrote. “He’s never missed a day of work, and he is such a delight to see every time one frequents his store. Instead of just meaningless transactions at a corner store, Sammy asks his customers how their kids are doing, he remembers their names, he is generous to a fault — sometimes offering some of his friends and customers money out of his own pocket! Let’s lift Sammy’s spirit and show him how we care and reassure him that, as a community, we’ve got his back.”
