Payless Shoe Store worker attacked by irate customer in Riverhead

A Riverhead shoe store employee was hit in the head by a woman wielding a large set of car keys Saturday morning after the customer became enraged that she would receive store credit instead of cash for a return.

The female employee, who was working alone at the Route 58 Payless Shoe Store at the time, told responding police that a woman entered the store about 10 a.m. seeking to return merchandise.

The customer was upset that the employee was on the phone when she arrived, and then flew into a rage when she was told she would be given store credit, Riverhead Town police said.

The woman struck the employee above her left eyebrow while holding the set of keys in her hand, and then fled the store, police said.

The employee called police, who reported that the victim suffered swelling from the blow.

Police requested surveillance video from the store and will investigate further in the event the victim — who is consulting with family on the matter — decides she wants to press charges, police said.

Correction: A typo in a previous version of this story incorrectly stated the incident occurred at 10 p.m.