Suspect who attacked gas station clerk with knife during robbery sought by Chilhowie, Va. police

CHILHOWIE, Va. (WJHL) — The Chilhowie Police Department is searching for a suspect who allegedly attacked a gas station clerk with a knife during a robbery attempt early Saturday morning.

A release from Chilhowie police said the attempted robbery took place at around 12:45 a.m. Saturday at an Exxon gas station at 409 Whitetop Road. The release said a Hispanic man entered the store and asked the clerk for assistance. When the clerk walked away, the suspect reportedly attacked him with a knife.

The department said the two “fought for control of the weapon throughout the store” until a witness saw the commotion and entered the store, assisting the clerk with disarming the suspect.

The release said the suspect left traveling toward Highway 11 in a black Hyundai Elantra with a royal blue passenger door. The vehicle had a Massachusetts license plate, according to police.

The store clerk was treated and released from Johnston Memorial Hospital, according to the release. The Chilhowie Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from the Virginia State Police and Smyth County Sheriff’s Office.

Photos of the suspect and the vehicle he was traveling in can be found below. Anyone with information on the incident or the suspect’s identity is urged to contact police immediately. The Chilhowie Police Department can be reached at 276-646-3232.

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