A man was shot in the face during a ‘gratuitously violent’ Brixton convenience store robbery last week – detectives have now released CCTV footage of two men they wish to trace.
The robbery happened at around 8.35pm on October 25 at the Phambra Foodstore in Lyham Road, Brixton, when two men entered the store.
One was holding what looked like a handgun, which is now believed to be a high-powered pellet gun.
This man fired the gun into the face of a 44-year-old man working behind the counter. The victim was struck in the face and eyes by a series of ball bearing-like pellets.
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Meanwhile the second robber leant over the counter and stole the cash register.
Both suspects then ran off on foot holding the register, heading north on Lyham Road towards Thornbury Road.
The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated for numerous wounds to his face.
Some of the pellets lodged in his eyes and he will need further surgery to remove the pellets and save his sight.
The suspects are both described as men in their twenties and of medium build.
Detective Constable Ben Turner of the Met’s Flying Squad said: “This was a vicious attack that could have left a man blinded.
“We desperately want to find the men responsible for this crime.
“They used gratuitous violence to carry out this robbery and are clearly dangerous.
“I would ask anyone with information to come forward and help us catch these dangerous, violent men.”
Anyone with information should contact detectives at the Flying Squad via 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
Picture courtesy of Ray Forster, with thanks
