ST. PETERS, Mo. (KMOX) -  Police in St. Peters are on the lookout for a woman who assaulted a liquor store employee during a botched robbery attempt.

It happened just before 9 pm Saturday at the HR Liquor Mini Market on north St. Peters Parkway.

A woman armed with a semi-automatic handgun and wearing a black ski mask entered and demanded money.

When the clerk didn’t instantly react “possibly due to some language barriers” according to a police report, the suspect struck the woman in the face.

Unable to get any money from the register, the robber turned her attention to the suspect’s purse and tried to run out with it, but the clerk grabbed the purse back and the suspect left empty-handed.

She’s described as a black female, 5’5″ to 5’7″ with a medium build, wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans and a black ski mask.

Police are also looking for a man who was standing outside the front door of the Mini Market who made have been involved.

Anyone with information is asked to contact St. Peters police detective Paul Barish at (636) 278-2244 ext. 3531, or (636) 278-2222.