A manhunt for suspects involved in an early morning robbery of a Conoco convenience store in the 3300 block of North Northeast Loop 323 has been called off.
Smith County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer, Sgt. Darrel Coslin, said a 911 call was made by the store clerk about 3:40 a.m. Saturday asking for assistance after being shot during a robbery.
When Tyler Police and Smith County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the convenience store, they found the clerk with multiple gunshot wounds. The clerk was able to give a vague description of the suspect as being a 5-foot-5-inch male. He was taken to East Texas Medical Center and is listed in critical condition.
Coslin said deputies spotted a 2008 grey dodge 4-door vehicle leaving the area. A pursuit of the vehicle ended at Texas Highway 155 and Interstate 20 where the suspects fled on foot.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office recovered the vehicle and established a perimeter around the area.
Texas Department of Public Safety helicopters were called in to conduct an aerial search and Texas Department of Corrections search dogs conducted a ground search.
Deputies recovered evidence from the vehicle, and clothing items believed to be from the suspects were found during the ground search.
Coslin said the aerial search was called off. Surveillance camera footage was retrieved from the convenience store, but it has not been released.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000, or Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and charges filed against the suspects in this case or any felony case.