(January 12, 2009)—Waco Police are seeking three men in connection with a late-night shooting in which a local business owner was injured while returning fire.

At around 11:45 p.m. Sunday, police officers responded to a robbery-in-progress call at the Smoke Shop, a convenience and automobile repair shop at the corner of North 25th Street and Bosque Boulevard in Waco.

The report indicated the store owner had been shot.

The owner told police he was still at work making repairs to his business following another burglary Sunday when he heard noise outside the building.

Police say two safes were taken from the building during that burglary.

Video surveillance obtained by police indicates three men approach the business and kicked in a side door, then immediately crossed the parking lot towards the front door.

The owner told police one of the men had a semi-automatic handgun, which the assailant fired at the owner.

The shop owner returned fire at the gunman but was grazed by a bullet on his right upper-arm.

Several shots were fired as all three men fled on foot, headed in southerly direction across North 25th Street.

The business owner was treated at the scene by ETMC paramedics, but refused transport to the hospital.

No arrests were made.

The gunman was described as a black male, 20-25 years old, 6-foot-1-inch tall, weighing about 160 lbs. and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.

The second man was also described as a black in his early to mid twenties, also 6-foot-1, 160 lbs. but wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

The third man was described as a black male in his twenties, about 5-foot-10-inches, 200 lbs., also wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a backpack.

Police are asking citizens with information that may help lead to an arrest to call the Waco Police Department at 254.750.7500 or Waco Crime Stoppers at 254.753.HELP (4357).