The doors of La Raza Market were closed to customers on Monday. A day after two masked men entered the convenience store in Madera County, and made off with money from the cash register.
Erica Stuart with the Madera County Sheriff's Department said, "This one in itself was pretty brazen, in terms of just the attack that took place and the store owners that tried to protect their place."
Investigators say the attack happened Sunday night, as two armed men, one with a knife, the other with a hand gun, demanded money from two of the employees inside.
Stuart said, "The purpose, was to steal the cash from the cash register and leave."
Before the suspects made their way out of the store, one of the clerks chased after them, a decision that could have cost him his life.
Stuart explained, "The scuffle occurred, the two clerks inside the store ended up getting stabbed."
Both victims were rushed to a local hospital with stab wounds, but are expected to survive. The suspects are still on the loose.
Store Owner Melvin Cancino said, "It's scary because we have our business right here. It's scary to know this happened just a few doors down our business."
Surrounding business owners on the strip say the incident has them on high alert.
Cancino added, "We're always on alert, we close early and we try to be out of here as soon as possible."
One suspect is described as 5 foot 3, thin build and in his mid-20s. The other suspect is 6 feet tall, heavy set in his mid-30s.
"There were witnesses outside that saw the two men flee the store, heading east toward Parkwood, but that's about all we know," Stuart said.
Investigators are now asking the public to help put the suspects behind bars.
