INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Gunfire erupted at Kern's Liquor Store at 9014 East 40 Highway on Thursday after robbers burst into the store, KMBC's Martin Augustine reported.

The robbers and the clerk were armed, and a shootout took place between them. The clerk was shot in his chest, but the wounded man managed to hit the alarm, and police were dispatched to the scene.

Officers called an ambulance for the clerk, but said he does not have life-threatening injuries.

Police are looking at surveillance video of the robbery for more clues.

"We have video tape of the counter area, and we have to look at it to determine if you can even see gender or race or anything else, or how many there were," said police Sgt. Bill Totter.

Because the clerk was in and out of consciousness after police arrived, officers could only get sketchy bits of information from him, Augustine reported.

Police continue to investigate.