Police in New York City are searching for a man who threw a Molotov cocktail -- or gasoline bomb -- into a Brooklyn convenience store early Wednesday.
The incident occurred around 1:55 a.m. at a 24-hour minimart, according to CBS News. Asif Butt, the store's 34-year-old clerk, was injured in the attack but was home in good condition by Wednesday night.
"I just thank God I am okay. I am very lucky I survived," he told the New York Daily News.
The suspect was allegedly in the store one hour before the attack, arguing with Butt over an unspecified issue. In surveillance footage, a hooded man is seen throwing the bomb into the store.
Authorities described the suspect as a Hispanic male between the ages of 30 and 40, around 5'8" to 5'10" in height and wearing dark sunglasses and hooded sweatshirt. Investigators are hoping the surveillance footage will help identify and locate him.
Fidel Perez, Butt's co-worker, told CBS News he heard the explosion from the store's drink cooler and came back to find his fellow employee on fire, prompting him to grab jugs of water and douse the flames on his clothes and hair.
Neighbors told reporters they were shocked by the attack and thankful the fire didn't spread to the rest of the building, where many families live.
"[The suspect] didn't think twice about what he was doing," Diana Soto said. "He didn't even consider anything, like people live upstairs. There's a lot of kids upstairs."
Anyone with information about the crime is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or text 'TIP577' to 274637 (CRIMES).
