A convenience store clerk was pistol whipped early Tuesday morning during an armed robbery of the Ellington's Shell station located at 20 Salem Circle.

According to a Newton County Sheriff's Office incident report, the clerk was in the process of opening the store and was making coffee with his back to the front door when he reportedly heard a man behind him say, "Hold up. Freeze."

 After leading the clerk behind the counter, the suspect reportedly struck the victim in the back several times with a silver automatic pistol.

While the clerk was on the ground from his wounds, the robber snatched the money from two registers and stuffed it into one of the store's white plastic bags with "Thank You" written in red on the sides.

The suspect then reportedly fled the store on foot headed north. An estimated $600 was taken from the tills.

Security footage from the store reportedly indicates the robber wore a pair of medium colored blue jeans, dark shoes, a black coat with a hood adorned with several white stars and a pair of light blue gloves decorated with white circles or stars.

The witness reportedly estimated the suspect to be approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and 160 pounds. He also said the man wore a black mask, possibly a sock cap, over his face and had a thick southern accent.

Anyone with further information regarding the case is asked to call the Newton County Sheriff's Office at (678) 625-1403. Tips may also be given anonymously at (678) 625-5007 or on their Web site www.newtonsheriffga.org.