Video shows armed robbery at 7-Eleven in Dearborn Heights; police seek gunman

1 person in custody; gunman remains at-large

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – Dearborn Heights police are searching for the gunman who robbed a 7-Eleven early Thursday morning on Cherry Hill Road near Inkster Road. 

The man entered the store about 4:40 a.m. armed with a handgun. A customer and clerk ran for safety. Police said at least one gunshot was fired toward the clerk. 

"He scared us. We ran out and so he evidently didn't get anything but put a scare into everybody," said customer Benny Jet. "I get a coffee here all the time, and we're not happy."

The video shows the gunman jump over the counter and try to break into the cash register. He scrambles to grab items from behind the counter before heading for the door. It's unclear what he took from the store. 

Here is a second camera's perspective of the gunman entering the store:

1 arrested, gunman still at-large

The gunman fled the location in a vehicle which police later caught up to in Inkster. However, the gunman remains at-large. 

"No one was hurt, luckily," said Lt. Mark Meyers, of Dearborn Heights police. "That subject then fled in a vehicle. We had some witnesses help us identify that vehicle. A chase pursued over in the city of Inkster. The driver of that vehicle was taken into custody. He's now being questioned. We're still trying to determine who the actual offender inside the building was."

Police say gunman first tried to rob store with knife

Meyers said the gunman shown in the surveillance video tried to rob the same 7-Eleven earlier in the night. He was armed with a knife the first time, but was fought off by the clerk. 

"He actually attempted to commit a robbery earlier in the night with a knife, in which the clerk fought him off," said Meyers. "He came back with a handgun this time to finish the job and he ended up shooting at the clerk."

Meyers said he hopes someone can identify the man shown in surveillance video. 

"We have good video and somebody's going to recognize him," he said. 

Anyone with information on this armed robbery needs to contact Dearborn Heights police. 

Stay with ClickOnDetroit for more information as it becomes available. 

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