A retailer received serious injuries after being shot in the face at his store in East Sussex.

The armed attack on Caesar Zarate took place as he worked at his Premier store on Margery Road, Hove, at 10.30 on the morning of September 11. 

The store owner was shot in the body as well as the face and is currently in a stable condition in hospital following emergency surgery.

The terrifying events unfolded in front of horrified customers who were leaving the store at the time.

Despite initial confusion as to the motive for the attack, it now appears that it was in fact a botched robbery attempt. This is the second armed robbery at the store in a short space of time, as a knifepoint robbery took place at the store last year. Local residents have expressed concerns over rising crime in the area.

Three men were arrested on Monday shortly after the incident took place. One man, Henry Doyley, 42, of Sheridan Terrace, Hove, has subsequently been charged with being concerned with the robbery of the store.
As Convenience Store went to press a spokeswoman for Sussex Police said that the other two men, also from the Brighton and Hove area, had been released on police bail without charge. The investigation is continuing.

Caesar, who is originally from Peru, is married with three children and lives in the town.