CRISFIELD — On Monday, Dec. 1 at 10:58 a.m., the Crisfield Police Department received a call to respond to Big Willey’s, 3 South 7th Street, for an armed robbery involving a handgun, with one of the employees hurt.

Upon arrival officers observed the injured employee and ambulance personnel were on the way. Another employee of the store and a witness observed an individual come into the store carrying a handgun, stating this is a robbery. The other store employee got into a fight with the individual who had the gun. As they rolled on the floor a second suspect entered who was brandishing a piece of wood and he went behind the counter and hit the employee, injuring her.

He removed money from the store and both suspects exited the store. Both suspects were described as black males, between the ages of 18 and 22, wearing either a ski mask covering the face except the eyes or a cowling covering the face. The one armed with a handgun was wearing a white hoodie. The suspect armed with the wood wore a gray hoodie.

During their investigation police believe a third suspect may have acted as a lookout. An abandoned bicycle was located that may have been used by one of the suspects and it is being analyzed for fingerprints.

The sick used in the assault, which turned out to be a 2 by 2 approximately 12 inches long, was also recovered and being submitted for DNA analysis and prints.

Chief Mike Tabor said several tips have come in to the department, “along with information from the streets and the Crisfield Housing Authority with regard to who the suspects are.” Two search and seizure warrants were executed at the housing authority, along with a DNA search warrant to obtain sample from individuals.

“We believe these suspects to be local and someone out there knows the entire story,” Chief Tabor said. “We need those persons to come forward. The community of Crisfield needs to come together and assist the Crisfield Police Department and help us solve this violent crime.”

This is “an active and fluid on-going investigation,” the chief stated, and officers will work on every lead “until it’s exhausted.”

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call the CPD at 410-968-1323 and ask for either the chief, Detective Lt. Lonnie Luedtke or Det. Ralph Oakes.

There is a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of this heinous crime. The amount taken in the robbery was not reported.