The 25-year-old employee was grazed in the leg during an attempted armed robbery early Thursday, police said.
NEW YORK — Police searched Thursday for a gunman accused of shooting a deli worker during an attempted armed robbery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side before fleeing on foot.
The shooting happened at about 1:30 a.m. inside a deli on Rivington Street, according to police and a report from WABC-TV. The 25-year-old employee was grazed in the upper leg and received medical treatment. No arrest had been announced as of Thursday.
The worker, who identified himself to WABC as Ace, said the man first entered the store seeking to buy candy and chips. The customer did not have enough money to pay, the worker said.
Ace said the man remained inside and waited until the employee became distracted. The man then displayed a gun and tried to rob the store, according to the worker’s account. A shot was fired during the encounter, grazing Ace in the leg.
Police said the gunman left the deli and ran from the area. Investigators described the person being sought as wearing a black shirt, black shorts and white sneakers. Authorities had not released his name or a more detailed description.
Investigators moved in and out of the store Thursday morning while collecting evidence. Police did not say whether they had recovered the gun or identified surveillance recordings that clearly showed the suspect.
Ace said he had worked at the deli for about a month before the shooting. He said he was recovering after receiving treatment, but additional information about his injuries was not immediately released.
The deli already had several security measures, including surveillance cameras, buzzers and panic buttons, Ace said. It was not immediately clear whether any of those systems helped investigators track the gunman’s movements before or after the shooting.
The United Bodegas of America offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Police continued to investigate the attempted robbery, and no charges had been filed.
Author note: Last updated August 6, 2026.