Video captures suspects robbing smoke shop

Police hope someone will recognize suspects

HOUSTON – Cameras were rolling when two masked men stormed into a southwest Harris county smoke shop, helping themselves to the merchandise behind the counters.

"I have never heard of anything happening like that over here -- a robbery or something. I haven't seen that," said Tony Hillmon, who lives in the area.

The surveillance video from Aug. 1 shows two men enter the shop along Addicks Clodine. According to detectives, the men barged into the empty store and quickly rushed over to the register. Out of the view of cameras, the suspects placed a gun to the owner's head demanding money.

The same style of crime happened Monday night 35 miles away in Channelview.

However, according to detectives, the clerk with armed and there was a shootout. The clerk was shot in the thigh and the suspects were able to get away.

As of now, police do not believe the cases are related.