VENICE, FL. - A Venice Police Department spokesperson says they are looking for two men after a hostage situation at a local department store.

According to Captain Tom McNulty, two males dressed in dark clothing and wearing Darth Vader masks entered the T.J. Maxx store on the Venice By-Pass at closing time and ordered the remaining employees and shoppers to the ground at gunpoint.

Several employees were able to escape and run to Sweetbay, where they called 911.

Several of the employees that were assisted out of the business claimed the suspects were still inside, along with several employees/customers were also inside.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was requested and a perimeter was maintained for their arrival.

The building was eventually searched and several more victims removed from within the business.

The suspects were not inside the building and are still at large. It is suspected that they fled the business prior to our arrival.

Detectives are now reviewing the surveillance video.