Parsippany police: Armed robbers at large

PARSIPPANY - Township police are looking for two suspects who allegedly robbed the Gulf station on eastbound Route 46 early Thursday morning and struck an attendant in the head with the butt of a gun.

According to a preliminary report, multiple officers responded to the scene of a reported robbery at 859 Route 46, next to the Red Roof Inn, where a 37-year-old male employee of the station said he was approached by two males, one Asian and one possibly black or Latino, who asked him for directions.

The Asian suspect then produced a handgun, at which time the attendant said he began to struggle with the man over the handgun. The Asian suspect was able to free himself from the victim’s grasp and struck him in the head with the butt of the gun, causing a laceration, according to the report.

The second male suspect removed a small lock box with cash in it from the outside attendant booth, police said. Both suspects fled the area towards Red Roof Inn.

Police established a perimeter around the scene while the Rockaway Neck Ambulance Squad tended to the victim and transported him to St. Clare's Hospital. Police were joined by the Morris County Sheriff's Department K-9 unit, which responded to help track the suspects. The Sheriff Department's CID unit also arrived to process the scene of the crime. The suspects were not found.

The black or Latino male was described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall and wearing black clothing and a ski mask. The Asian male was described as being slightly shorter than the other suspect, wearing all black clothing and a ski mask.

The crime is under investigation by the township Investigative Division. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Thomas Lesiak at 973-263-4396.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.