Pizza shop worker shot in robbery attempt

RALEIGH -- An employee of a Hillsborough Street pizza shop was shot and slightly injured early today during an attempted holdup, police said.

Chang Zhu, 56, was among three workers in the Pizza America at 2810 Hillsborough Street when a would-be robber entered the restaurant with a handgun, said police spokesman Jim Sughrue. The gun discharged, and Zhu was struck in the left arm, Sughrue said.

The robber fled. He was described as black, 20 to 25 years old and five-foot-nine with a thin build. He had no facial hair and was wearing a black coat. Other identifying details, such as skin tone and hair style, were not available.

Zhu was treated and released from WakeMed.

Investigators have not determined whether the shooting was intentional, Sughrue said.

Police are looking into the possibility that the robbery attempt is related to an attempted robbery at 3:29 a.m. Tuesday at Papa John's at 2101 Avent Ferry Road. No suspect has been identified in that case.