OCEANSIDE -- A man who allegedly attempted to hold up an Oceanside liquor store Saturday night was shot by a clerk, police said Sunday.

The attempted robbery was reported at 9:42 p.m., when a gunman -- described only as a white man -- entered Big Liquor in the 600 block of Redondo Drive and demanded cash, Lt. Lee Steitz said.

One employee "managed to start grappling with the suspect," while the other took out a gun and shot the suspect several times, Steitz said.

The suspect ran out of the store and collapsed from his injuries, the lieutenant said. Neither employee was hurt.

The suspect was taken by medical helicopter to a local trauma center for treatment and is expected to survive, Steitz said. Both the suspect and his weapon are in police custody.

An investigation is ongoing.