The Cleveland Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a masked gunman who robbed a vape shop in downtown Cleveland early Thursday morning.
At approximately 4:50 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, officers were dispatched to Pocket Mart, 100 W. Houston St., after receiving a report of an armed robbery.
According to police, the store clerk told officers an unidentified man, described as approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a medium build, entered the shop wearing a clown-style Halloween mask, gloves and a dark winter jacket. The suspect allegedly pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded money, shouting, “Give me the money.”
The clerk ran behind the counter, opened the cash register and handed the suspect a small amount of overnight cash. The suspect then fled the shop on foot.
The clerk was unable to provide a direction of travel and did not initially see a vehicle. However, investigators later determined the suspect had parked in the alley behind the business. The vehicle is described only as an unknown-color four-door passenger car.
The Cleveland Police Department Criminal Investigation Division is asking anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect’s identity to contact detectives at 281-592-2622 or Crime Stoppers at 800-392-7867. Anonymous tips are accepted.