INDIANAPOLIS -- A longtime clerk at an Indianapolis convenience store was shot and killed early Saturday during a robbery, police said.

A customer came into the Village Pantry at 1402 S. Meridian St. just after 5 a.m. and said he saw two men behind the counter taking items.

Images: Clerk Killed In Early-Morning Robbery

The customer chased the men from the store, but when he returned, he found Becky Hough, 62, on the floor of the business, police said.

Hough was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said she had been shot in the head.

Police said the men, who were caught by store surveillance cameras, wore masks to obscure their faces, and stole two bags of cigarettes.

The robbers were described by police as white, between 18 and 24 years old and 5 feet 8 inches tall with medium builds. They were both wearing dark, hooded sweatshirts and dark pants.

The men were last seen running in the neighborhood just southeast of the Village Pantry.

Police said Hough had worked at the store for 23 years and was well known in the community.

"Whenever I came here she was always nice and caring and pleasant, and treated everyone with respect. She was a good lady," said customer George Wiley.

"She'd always try to help everyone in the neighborhood, give them directions or whatever," said customer Michael Collins. "She was always really nice and kind."

Laverne Ayers, who had known Hough for 14 years, said she had been robbed at the store before.

"They stole her cell phone and everything. She would just tell them, 'Take what you want and go on,'" Ayers said.

She said Hough planned to retire in January.

Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.