Two fathers and one 13-year-old were punched by the robbers, one of whom was armed with a sawed-off shotgun, and then shoved to the ground along with an 11-year-old boy, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Tuesday.

Police said the 13-year-old was hit in the face.

"It's sickening," said North College Hill Police Sgt. Robert Kidd. "They were gutsy enough not to have masks and stupid enough to hit a kid. What kind of man hits a kid?"

The robbers were described by police as black men aged between 17 and their early 20s.

North College Hill police said a few businessmen have stepped forward and offered to reimburse Troop 393 for the stolen money.