Riverside police on the hunt for hammer-wielding suspect

The owner of a Riverside tobacco shop was severely beaten Tuesday by a hammer-wielding suspect who robbed the business.

The 52-year-old woman, whose identity was withheld, was attacked around12:30 p.m. inside Smoke Shop Plus at 1788 University Ave., just north ofChicago Avenue, according to Riverside police.

A man walked into the location and began striking the victim to get heraway from the cash register, police said. After hitting the shop ownerrepeatedly in the head to incapacitate her, the suspect calmly took the moneyand took off on foot.

The woman stumbled out of the shop, seeking help from passers-by, whocalled 911.”She was beat up,” said witness Sandra Reyes. “There was bloodcoming out of her ears.”

The victim was rushed to Riverside Community Hospital in serious butstable condition, authorities said.

Surveillance video showed the suspect was black, bearded, 35 to 40 yearsold, about 6 feet tall and 220 pounds, wearing a gray zippered sweatshirt andgray sweat pants, police said.

Anyone with information was urged to call the Riverside PoliceDepartment at (951) 826-5700.