The Robbery Squad reports the arrests of two individuals for an attempted robbery that occurred on Saturday, June 2, at 2:30 p.m. in Massapequa.

According to detectives, two male subjects entered Gils Gold Mine jewelry store located at 4137 Merrick Road. The subjects told an employee that they wanted to sell two rings and presented the employee with the rings, police said. While the rings were being examined one of the suspects produced a handgun and announced a robbery, police added.

The employee, police said, struggled with the subject and produced his own licensed handgun. The employee fired one round, which struck one of the subjects in the right thigh area, police added.

According to police, both subjects then fled from the store in separate directions on Merrick Road. A passing motorist observed one of the subjects enter the passenger side of a blue Ford van. The motorist notified 911 and followed the vehicle to the Southern State Parkway. The van was stopped westbound on the parkway between exists 28 and 27 by Seventh Precinct Patrol Officers and Bureau of Special Operations Officers.

The two occupants of the van were placed under arrest. The subjects have been identified as Jose Ramon Diaz, of Floral Park, and Rodolfo Garcia of Brooklyn. Diaz, police said, was the driver of the van and Garcia was the subject who had been shot inside the store. Garcia was treated and released for his injury at Nassau University Medical Center. The third suspect, who was last seen running westbound on Merrick Road from the store, is described as an Hispanic male, 20 years old, 5'10" tall, thin build, dark curly hair and wearing a white T-shirt.

Defendants Diaz and Garcia are charged with Attempted Robbery 1st Degree and were arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on June 3.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding this crime to call Crime-Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.