Violent attack caught on camera in Roxborough

ROXBOROUGH (WPVI) -- Philadelphia Police are stepping up their search for a suspect caught on camera beating a clerk and robbing a deli in Roxborough.

Investigators are hoping the surveillance video will help lead them to the attacker.

It happened Tuesday afternoon at M and M Market at Markle and Mitchell Streets.

Police say it was 2:00 p.m. when a man with his hood pulled up over a baseball cap he was wearing walked into the deli with a small, black handgun.

The video shows the suspect walking behind the counter and pointing the gun at an employee.

He starts rifling through the clerk's pockets, takes money from the register and steals cigarettes, putting them into a white plastic bag with a red star logo, possibly a Macy's bag.

While he's doing that, the employee pushes a silent hold-up alarm and that's when the suspect starts punching him in the head over and over, about a half-dozen times, knocking the employee unconscious.

The employee slumps to the floor.

The robber made off with $1500 in cash and merchandise, leaving the clerk lying on the ground.

Police believe the suspect is in his early to mid 30s, between 6' and 6' 2" tall with light facial hair.

Northwest Detectives is asking anyone who recognizes the suspect or who has information about the case to contact them.