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Seattle police say a shoplifter used an unusual weapon – a ukulele – to attack a convenience-store employee in West Seattle earlier this week.

Police spokesman Jonah Spangenthal-Lee said the incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday at a store near Delridge Way Southwest and Southwest Myrtle Street.

A man and woman, who appeared to be in their early 20s, entered the store, which is at a gas station, and tried to shoplift a six-pack of malt liquor.

A store employee confronted the suspects, ordered them to put the beer back, and called 911.

Police say the man argued with the employee and then hit him over the head with a ukulele, shattering the instrument and cutting the victim’s scalp. The worker was bleeding profusely from the back of his head, and the suspects had fled, when officers arrived.

The store employee was taken to Highline Medical Center for treatment.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the police department’s robbery unit, 206-684-5540.