West Village Smoke Shop Robbed At Gunpoint, Police Say

WEST VILLAGE, NY — Three men robbed a West Village smoke shop at gunpoint on Thursday night, hitting a store employee on the head with a gun before taking cash from the shop, police said.

Police said the men went to the Blue Nile smoke shop, located at 324 Bleecker St., on Thursday at about 9:25 p.m.

The men entered the store and threatened the 50-year-old employee who worked there, according to the NYPD. One of the men took out a black gun and hit the employee over the head with it before shoving him to the ground, according to police.

The robbers took the store employee's cellphone and $500 in cash from the register before running from the shop, police said. The men have not yet been arrested.

The store employee was treated for his injuries at a nearby hospital and later released.

Police released surveillance photos of the robbers and are asking for the public's help in identifying and locating them.

Image credit: Courtesy of the NYPD