Police: Robber shoots, wounds gas-station employee

An armed robber shot an employee of a Wilmington gas station and stole cash from the register Friday afternoon before fleeing south in a dark-colored SUV, Delaware state police said.

The robber entered the Shell station on Newport Gap Pike just before 5 p.m. and asked to buy merchandise on display behind the sales counter, police said. As the employee turned to get it, the robber took out a gun and demanded money from the register.

The robber fired one round, hitting the employee, 47, in the stomach, state police said. The victim opened the register, and the robber removed an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing south onto Newport Gap Pike, police said.

Police released a photo of an apparent getaway vehicle, saying it might be a newer model Nissan Pathfinder with a missing grill.

The victim was treated at the scene by New Castle County paramaedics and then taken to Christiana Hospital trauma center, where he was admitted with nonfatal injuries.

- Tom Avril