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Authorities: Newark Officer Shoots, Wounds Armed Robbery Suspect

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Newark police officer shot an armed suspect after interrupting a robbery at a gas station early Thursday morning, authorities said.

Around 12:30 a.m., police said two men armed and wearing masks tried to rob the Sunoco station at Washington and Court streets.

"They pointed the gun at us," a clerk said. "Me and my friend, we were standing behind the register so my friend opened the register for them."

One of the clerks at the location flagged down an officer who happened to be in the area. The officer demanded the suspect to drop the gun, but when he refused, the officer fired once at the suspect, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.

Chief assistant Essex County prosecutor Thomas Fennelly said the suspect was transported to University Hospital. The suspect's condition isn't known. The second suspect was taken into custody.

This was the second time in two weeks the gas station has been robbed, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.

"We try our bosses to have security for us," one clerk said. "I'm very scared -- I decide to even quite the job. There's no protection here."

The shooting is under investigation by the prosecutor's office.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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