Detectives still searching for suspect in Uni-Mart robbery

State College Police Department detectives are still looking for the man who robbed a State College Uni-Mart convenience store Wednesday and put the clerk in the hospital, the State College Police Department said yesterday.

The suspect entered the Uni-Mart at 1320 E. College Ave. at approximately 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and demanded money from the clerk, he then repeatedly swung at and hit the clerk in the head with a tire iron, police said.

After attempting to block the blows, the clerk located and attempted to defend himself with a hammer, police said. A wrestling match ensued, at which time the suspect gained control of the hammer and unsuccessfully attempted to open the cash register with it, police added.

Police said the suspect then fled on foot toward Squirrel Drive.

The victim, State College resident Kurt Smith, 40, suffered bruised and broken ribs and multiple lacerations to the head which required 24 staples. He also suffered a puncture wound on the shoulder from the claw end of the hammer during the attack, police said.

Smith was treated at Centre Community Hospital and released yesterday afternoon, police said.

The suspect was observed looking through the Uni-Mart window and then walking toward the rear of the building about an hour before the robbery, witnesses told police.

The crime is being investigated as an attempted homicide, police said.

The suspect is described as a middle-aged black male, 6-foot-1-inch to 6-foot-2-inches tall, and was wearing a green tousle cap, sneakers and a fairly new green army coat, which may now have a ripped right pocket, police said. He also may have had blood from the victim on his clothing or body, police added.

The investigation is continuing, and anyone with additional information is asked to contact the State College Police Department.