Police seek two men who robbed Merced store

Merced police are looking for two men who took an undetermined amount of money Tuesday from a cash register after pistol-whipping a store clerk and firing several shots into the ceiling.

The clerk, Muhammad Bashir, 22, who told police one of the men also punched him in the face, was treated at the scene by paramedics, but refused to go the hospital, Cmdr. Floyd Higdon said today.

The holdup was reported shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Cigarette Store on West 18th Street.

One robber was wearing a black bandana across his face, while the other wore a white Halloween mask.

Anyone with any information about the case is asked to call Detective Sgt. Scott Skinner at (209) 385-4702 or the Merced Police Department's tipster line at (209) 385-4725.