Gates County authorities are seeking two suspects in connection with an armed robbery of a grocery store and assault of a store customer Tuesday.

According to the Ahoskie Roanoke-Chowan Herald, two suspects, both wearing masks, entered the rear door of the Family Foods store about 7:45 p.m.

Shots were fired, and at least one store customer was hit over the head with a weapon carried by one of the suspects, the newspaper reported. No one was hit by the gunfire but the customer struck by the weapon was hospitalized.

The robbers made off with an undisclosed amount of money from the store’s cash register and safe, the newspaper reported.

One of the suspects is believed to have used a rifle or shotgun during the robbery while the other was armed with a handgun.

Anyone with information about the suspects’ whereabouts is urged to contact the Gates County Sheriff’s Office at 357-2411, ext. 2.