Thief with pistol robs Circle-K, threatens clerk

STRUTHERS -- A thief, described as a short white male wearing a red and gray hooded sweat shirt and carrying a pistol, threatened to kill the clerk during a robbery of the Circle-K convenience store at 311 Maplewood Ave.
The clerk told police the man walked to the counter and asked for cigarettes at about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday. She got his cigarettes and when she went to the cash register, the thief was holding the pistol in his right hand against his chest.
He ordered her to give him the money or he would kill her. She opened the cash register, which contained a small amount of money, and the Lottery machine, which had no money.
He then ordered her to open a second cash register in the store. When she said she did not have the numbers needed to do so, he again threatened to shoot her.
He finally left but said if she pressed any buttons, he would kill her. After he left the store, the clerk called police.
She told officers that the thief walked west on Fifth Street.