WICKER PARK — An armed robber attempted to hold up a gas station clerk at Wicker Park's Division and Damen intersection Thursday, but ended up fleeing the scene empty-handed after firing one shot, police said.
Around 6:40 p.m. Thursday, a man who was wearing a green reflective traffic safety vest walked into a Shell Gas Station at 1950 W. Division St. and, after announcing a robbery, told a clerk to open the register, said Officer Jose Estrada, a Chicago Police spokesman.
But the 32-year-old clerk was having difficulty opening the register and decided to try and flee from behind the counter, which prompted the alleged robber to fire one shot.
"[The suspect] did not get away with any property or proceeds, and nobody was struck," Estrada said.
The robber fled on foot, Estrada said.
The gunman was described as a black male, between 38 to 40 years old, standing around 6 feet tall, weighing between 210 and 240 lbs, with brown eyes and a dark brown complexion, Estrada said.
Around 7:15 p.m. Thursday, police had put crime tape around the gas station's front entrance, though customers were still able to buy gas with their credit cards rather than going inside of the station, and some did.
Gaspar Gomez, owner of the station, which celebrated 40 years in business in June, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Estrada was unable to confirm if there was any surveillance video capturing the incident or if a bullet was recovered.
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