Gunfire, theft follow confrontation over wearing mask at Bethlehem Twp. store, cops say

UPDATE: Man, 35, charged with attempted homicide in cigar store shooting, but still on lam

INITIAL POST: A man who was not wearing a protective mask entered the Cigars International store on Friday morning in Bethlehem Township and when told to leave by a clerk, got angry, stole two cigars and moments later fired two shots from a semiautomatic handgun at the clerk who followed him into the parking lot, township police report.

The man, whose identity police have determined but not released, fled in a blue Dodge pickup east on Brodhead Road and was not in custody as of noon, police Chief Dan Pancoast said. A warrant for the man’s arrest was being sworn out on Friday afternoon, Pancoast said later.

The incident, which was reported at 11:23 a.m., began when the man went into the store at 4078 Nazareth Pike and was told by the clerk about the store’s mask policy, Pancoast said. As the man got upset, the clerk offered to bring the man cigars outside the store, Pancoast said.

The man continued to complain, took the two cigars and left the store, Pancoast said. The clerk followed him, Pancoast said. The man then turned and fired the shots at the clerk and a third shot into the air before leaving, Pancoast said. The clerk was not wounded, the chief said.

Several store patrons were sitting outside smoking cigars as the shots were fire, but none was hit, Pancoast said.

Pennsylvania requires masks in any indoor location accessible to the public, businesses included, as well as any outdoor space where distance cannot be maintained.

People early Friday afternoon outside the store declined to comment to lehighvalleylive.com.

Reporters Kurt Bresswein and Steve Novak contributed to this post.

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Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.