An early Thursday morning robbery at a South Newport service station left a woman injured.

Liberty County Sheriffs Office Detective James Snider said that at 3:21 a.m., the Liberty County 911 Center received an emergency call from the El Cheapo convenience store at 11181 South Coastal Highway. 

The store clerk reported that two dark-complected black males wearing dark clothing and masks and carrying guns entered the store and robbed it of money and tobacco products.

Before they fled, one of the males grabbed a bat from behind the counter and swung it, hitting a friend of the clerk’s in the back of the head. The victim had her back to the robber and did not have see the attack coming. 

Deputies and EMS personnel responded to the scene. The woman was transported to Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, where she was treated and released and is expected to make a full recovery. 

The sheriff’s Investigation Division is asking for the public’s help in apprehending these two individuals. 

"Criminals who are capable of such unwarranted violence can be expected to perpetrate more criminal acts, and the potential for violence and injury to innocent parties is very high,” Snider said.  

Anyone with any information is asked to please call Detective Capt. Doug Snider at 912-876-4555 or 912-408-3107.