Investigators say the attack happened as the worker secured metal panels at the storefront.
HOUSTON — Two masked men shot a convenience store clerk several times and stole his money bag while he closed a shop near Barberry Drive and Scott Street around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to Houston police. The suspects escaped on foot.
Police said the clerk survived and was rushed to a hospital after supervisors gave first aid at the scene. The bag taken held about $1,500 and identification cards. The shooting, which unfolded in the Sunnyside area before dawn on Nov. 26, remains unsolved, and detectives are searching for surveillance video that shows the approach and escape routes. No arrests or detailed suspect descriptions were released by Thursday morning.
The confrontation began at the front of the store as the clerk secured the entrance for the night. A Houston police lieutenant said one robber fired, the clerk ran along the side of the building and fell, and the men wrestled the bag away. The lieutenant said the robbers fired more rounds before leaving, and estimated the clerk may have been hit up to eight times. Officers arrived within minutes and used trauma kits while firefighters staged nearby for a fast transport.
Detectives said they are collecting video from the store and nearby corners on Scott Street. They did not release the victim’s name or age, citing the active investigation. The exact caliber and number of shell casings recovered were not disclosed. Police also did not say whether the robbers used a getaway car. The men wore ski masks and dark clothing, investigators said. The store sits on a short stretch of Barberry that feeds to Scott, a corridor lined with small markets, auto shops and late-night food counters.
Closing-time robberies have been a recurring concern in southeast Houston this year, with several cases occurring in lots as employees carry deposit bags from doors to cars. In one spring case, a shop owner in the same quadrant shot an armed man during an attempted holdup; in others, workers were injured while handing over cash. Wednesday’s attack fits that pattern of quick strikes aimed at employees who are visible near storefronts at lockup.
The robbery division is handling the case and will compare any ballistics to open files. Detectives plan to canvass adjacent businesses for witnesses and look for video from high-mounted cameras facing Scott Street. If images provide clearer features or clothing details, police said they will share them in an update. Any identification would be forwarded to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for charging decisions. No court filings were posted as of Thursday.
As daylight returned on Thursday, yellow tape was gone but a few numbered markers still dotted the concrete where officers worked overnight. “Getting there fast made a difference,” the lieutenant said, noting that supervisors were first on scene and began chest seals and bandage work. A nearby cashier, opening her shop, said she heard about the shooting from customers and planned to keep the front lights bright through the night. Residents passing by glanced at a shuttered panel still scuffed from the struggle.
By midday Thursday, police said the clerk remained hospitalized in stable condition, and detectives expected to review additional video on Friday. Further updates were expected after interviews and evidence checks later this week.
Author note: Last updated November 28, 2025.