Police: Shopper Used Hammer To Attack Store Worker

Sign up for the Ashburn Patch newsletter!

Images: Photos of the suspect in Tuesday’s assault were taken by the store’s security camera system.

An unidentified suspect hit a teenage store employee in the neck with a hammer Tuesday evening at the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets and then fled the store, according to Leesburg police.

The victim, an 18-year-old Leesburg man, was transported to the Inova Fairfax Hospital by ambulance and is currently listed in stable condition, the police said. The Leesburg police recovered the hammer at the scene.

The suspect is described as a white man in his early 20s, 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 155 to 165 pounds. He was wearing sunglasses, tan shorts, dark socks, brown shoes, a green and orange plaid shirt, and a green and white hat with a white emblem on the front.

Police officers responded at 6:34 p.m. Tuesday to the report of an assault at the Polo Ralph Lauren Store, in Suite 491 of the outlet mall at 241 Fort Evans Road NE, according to a police report.

The employee was assisting the suspect with a clothing purchase and escorting him to a fitting room when he was struck in the neck by the suspect, who was wielding a hammer, the police said.

The claw end of the hammer made impact with the side of the victim’s neck, causing puncture wounds. After striking the victim, the suspect fled the store and ran towards the parking lot, the police said.

The Leesburg Police Department is asking that anyone who has any information or may have witnessed this assault to contact them immediately at (703) 771-4500. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call the Leesburg Crime Line at (703) 443-TIPS (8477).

The department can also receive information from the public using a program called TIPSUBMIT. Tips about a specific crime or criminal activity can be sent by text, email or smartphone. Simply Text LPDTIP plus your message to 274637.