A masked man held women and children at gunpoint inside the Shoe Palace on Route 9 in Howell Township.

The co-owner of the store tells News 12 New Jersey that the gunman ordered everyone inside the store to get on the ground when he burst into the store Monday around 6 p.m.

Co-owner Shaya Guttman says the gunman held a gun to his head and demanded the money from the register.

"I was worried about all the ladies in there because they were all frightened," he says. "It was scary but I had a lot of adrenaline rush going on... I wasn't sure if I should attack him or not because I was in that mode but I decided it wasn't worth the money."

Howell police canvassed the area with search dogs, but lost the suspect's scent. Police say the suspect is an African-American man standing about 6 feet tall, with a muscular build. He was wearing a black North Face hooded sweatshirt and black flannel pants.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Howell Township Police Department Detective Anthony Romano at 732-938-4575 ext. 2879 or by email at aromano@howellpolice.org.