ROME — Two armed and masked Black males are wanted by the Rome Police Department after gunfire broke out during an attempted robbery at Bill’s Variety, 504 W. Thomas St., Saturday night.

The robbery occurred only two nights after the store owner, Ian Perfetti, and his father, Dennis, attended a special Rome Common Council Public Safety Committee meeting focused on crime in the city.

Perfetti and his father were vocal about the dangers they have faced at their store.

“I publicly stated to city officials and the chief of police that the same stuff that was happening the last time we were robbed was happening again,” Perfetti said on Monday.

“I gave them the forewarning that it was going to happen again,” he said.

Rome Police said two Black males dressed head-to-toe in black entered the convenience store on West Thomas Street at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday and demanded cash from an employee. Police said the men displayed a hunting style long rifle and were wearing black hooded sweatshirts or jackets, black pants and black ski masks.

During the interaction, shots were fired and police said the two suspects fled the store.

According to Perfetti, he was in a back room, while his father was working the counter.

“They came in demanding money from him,” Perfetti said. “I heard a struggle ensue.”

Perfetti said he grabbed his personally owned firearm and went to confront the robbers. He said they fired two shots at him as he came around, and he returned fire with one shot. He said the thieves fled without stealing anything from the store.

“I was shot at twice, and I discharged my weapon at them after I was shot at,” Perfetti stated. “They shot twice, I shot once.”

The two suspects were seen fleeing east on West Thomas Street, south on North Madison Street, east on Curtis Street and then north onto Stevens Street, police said.

The police department is asking all residents in the area of the escape to check their personal security cameras for any possible footage of the two suspects. All residents in the area are also asked to check their yards and neighboring areas to see if the suspects dropped or discarded any items or property.

Anyone with information on the suspects or anyone who finds anything is asked to call the Rome Police Tip Line at 315-339-7744. Anonymous tips can also be sent to the website www.MohawkValleyCrimeStoppers.com or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-866-730-8477.

Perfetti said this was the second armed robbery at Bill’s Variety in the past year, and at least the fifth known larceny incident.

“I’m shaken up and frustrated, obviously,” Perfetti said. “I have my gun to protect my business.”

Perfetti said the police department has been “very helpful” as they investigate the robbery attempt, but said Mayor Jacqueline M. Izzo has not responded to his attempts to discuss public safety with City Hall.

Izzo was not in attendance at Thursday’s meeting, which was hosted by the Common Council’s Public Safety Committee and was attended by Police Chief David Collins.