CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – University Police are investigating after an attempted retail theft Thursday morning at an off-campus convenience store resulted in a store employee receiving non-life-threatening stab wounds.

The incident prompted a campuswide Illini-Alert notification sent to all students, faculty and staff.

Police initially were called at 3:53 a.m. Thursday by a store employee at Circle K, 51 E. Green St., Champaign, who reported that he was stabbed during a struggle with a man who attempted to take alcohol from the store without paying.

Recognizing the theft in progress, the employee attempted to detain the offender. A physical struggle ensued, and the offender produced an unknown sharp object which he used to strike the employee at least twice.

The offender then ran from the store.

The employee was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of superficial wounds.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the University of Illinois Police Department at 217-333-1216. Witnesses may remain anonymous by calling Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477 (373-TIPS), by visiting 373tips.com or by providing information through the P3 Tips mobile app available on iOS and Android. All messages to Crime Stoppers are electronically stripped of identifying information and forwarded to police by an independent third party.