Robber escapes under cover of trick-or-treaters

Fires warning shot in gas station store

LAKE BLUFF -- The clerk at a Route 43 gas station was not injured Saturday evening when an armed gunman punctuated his holdup demands with a single shot into the floor.

Sgt. Curtis Gregory of the Lake County Sheriff's Department said police were unable to locate the gunman after he fled on foot through the area, which was filled with trick-or-treating families at the time.

"This was definitely a dangerous individual," Gregory said Sunday.

Reports state that a 45- to 50-year-old black male wearing a dark jacket and stocking cap entered the store around 6 p.m. and waited for customers to leave before approaching the clerk.

"He said he wanted cash, and then he fired a shot into the floor just past the clerk while he was screaming for the money," said Gregory, adding that the weapon appeared to have been a .380-caliber pistol.

After getting an undetermined amount of cash, the man reportedly left the building and quickly returned to demand a package of cigarettes before departing for good.

Gregory said the number of people walking in the area participating in Halloween activities ruled out the use of a canine unit to track the robber, who remained at large late Sunday.