RICHLAND COUNTY, SC — A robbery turned violent and a victim put one suspect in the hospital when a trio of men tried to take lottery tickets and cash from a gas station Wednesday morning.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department said the men, wearing dark clothing and ski masks, entered the Corner Pantry at 5413 Forest Drive around 1 a.m.

A clerk reported to deputies that the men demanded lottery tickets and cash, and began firing their weapons. The clerk said she retrieved her own weapon and returned fire, shooting one suspect in the upper body and possibly hitting a second man.

One suspect was taken to Palmetto Health Richland hospital. Deputies are looking for the other two and interviewing witnesses, the department said.

Kelly Davis