Two Hartford men are in custody after a robbery turned into a hostage situation at the 7-Eleven on Willard Avenue in Newington, according to police.
Police said Albert Gonzalez, 21, and Guillermo Casada, 18, were armed when they walked into the 7-Eleven around 2 a.m. and assaulted a clerk and a customer during the robbery.
One suspect had a handgun and the other had a shotgun, according to police.
The injured clerk was able to set off a panic alarm to alert police before Gonzalez and Casada held him and a customer hostage inside the store, according to police.
Newington Police and State Police blocked off several roads in the area and the suspects held up a white towel and surrendered about 40 minutes later.
The clerk was bleeding from the head after one of the robbers hit him in the head with a shotgun, police said.The customer was also assaulted and sustained a minor injury.
He taken to Hartford Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
U.S. & World
Albert Gonzalez, 21, of Hartford, and Casada, Guillermo, 18, of Hartford, have been charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree threatening, criminal use of a firearm or electric defense weapon and criminal possession of a firearm or electric defense weapon.
Gonzalez was held on $750,000 bond and Casada was held on $500,00. Both are due in court on April 25.
The 7-Eleven remains closed while police continue their investigation.
