A man fired at least one shot during an armed robbery on Ferry St. late Thursday night, prompting a manhunt and an unsuccessful police raid at a condemned property nearby. 

A witness said the hooded gunman entered Classic Pizza around 10:30 p.m., shoving the weapon at the cashier's chest and demanding money from the register. 

The suspect then reportedly fired the weapon into the ceiling before fleeing on foot with cash.

The incident prompted a search by Malden, Medford and State police, as well as some area K-9 units. 

Police are investigating whether the incident is related to similar robberies in Chelsea and Revere Thursday night.

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Stand-off at 163 Ferry St.

Witnesses told investigators the window on a second floor fire escape was ajar at nearby 163 Ferry St., an abandoned muti-family unit condemned by the Board of Health in 2009. 

There was also evidence of entry to the building's basement apartment and a scent of the suspect discovered by police dogs, an officer at the scene said. 

Police quickly established a perimeter around the property - not visible from the street - on both Ferry St. and parallel Hillside Ave. 

SWAT units raided the property during a few tense moments a little after 12:30 a.m., though no suspects were found inside. 

The hunt continues

An official description had not been released by early Friday morning, but a scanner report described the suspect as 5'8” and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the Malden Police Detectives unit at 781-397-7181.