SoHo Zara employee struck over head with bottle by customer falsely accused of shoplifting

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A customer at the Zara store in SoHo struck an employee over the head with a bottle after being accused of shoplifting, and police are searching for the suspect.

It happened just before 3 p.m. on Saturday at Zara, located at 503 Broadway near Spring Street, officials said.

Sources told 1010 WINS that the 35-year-old employee is a loss prevention officer who had accused two people of shoplifting, when they had actually paid for their items.

This false accusation sparked a verbal argument between the shoppers and employee, and the patrons left. Soon later, one returned, and hit the employee over the head with a bottle.

The employee was rushed to the hospital and is in stable condition, police said.

Social media was ablaze with concern and shoppers reportedly huddled in fear in the back of the store, thinking that the incident was an active shooting situation.

There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.