Raleigh police looking for suspect in Food Lion robbery

Investigators said the robbery happened around 6:30 p.m. at the Food Lion on Rock Quarry Road. There were no injuries but the store was closed during the investigation.

Officials were not sure if any shots were fired. They were viewing surveillance video to gather clues and to see if they could identify the suspect. The only thing known so far is it was a black male who committed the crime. Shoppers said he wore a ski mask made of cloth, a hat and a hoodie.

Some shoppers who talked with WRAL's Aaron Thomas describe hearing a gunshot inside and the robber demanding money. Those shoppers ran to the back of the store, even hiding in a freezer to save their lives.

"Upon paying for my groceries, that's when we heard the loud pop," said a shopper, who did not want to be identified. "I thought someone had dropped something."

She and other shoppers said they saw the man who fired a gun.

"I left my groceries, I left my phone, I had my card, my bank card and we ran to the back," the shopper said.

Tirek McRae describes the Food Lion as a usually calm place.

"My heart is just racing because I just want to make sure everybody is OK," McRae said.

The store closed early and will reopen at regular hours on Sunday.