Robbery victim survives gunshot to head

A man survived a gunshot wound to the head Tuesday morning during an armed robbery in Salinas, according to police.

The robbery was reported at 8:13 a.m. in the first block of Williams Road at a building that houses two businesses, a gas station and a taqueria. The suspect entered the businesses and robbed the gas station clerk before turning his attention to the taqueria clerk, who was preparing food at the time.

Police said that when the clerk was unable to open the cash register, the suspect fired one round at him, striking the clerk in the top of the head. The victim survived and was treated at a hospital for injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his late 20s with a chrome-colored gun and a bandana over his face. He was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket and blue jeans, police said. He might be injured and limping, since a witness to the robbery may have chased the suspect down and struck him with a vehicle, according to police.

The Salinas Police Department is asking anyone with information about the case to contact Officer Jacky Bohn at (831) 758-7161 or (831) 775-4201, ext 6405.