Teen injured in shooting during attempted robbery, police say

Hot Springs police gather evidence after a shooting in Wade Street Park on Thursday.
Hot Springs police gather evidence after a shooting in Wade Street Park on Thursday.

HOT SPRINGS -- A teen was shot Thursday morning in Wade Street Park during a confrontation with two unknown males who were still being sought by Hot Springs police.

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The victim, 17, was at the park around 11 a.m. when he was approached by two black males who attempted to rob him, Hot Springs police said in a news release. One of the robbers shot him once in the groin area before they fled on foot.

Hot Springs Police Department Cpl. Kirk Zaner said the victim told police he didn't know either of the robbers. He was taken by private vehicle to National Park Medical Center for treatment of what was described as a nonlife-threatening injury.

The gunfire prompted a brief lockdown at Langston Magnet School, located a few blocks away at 120 Chestnut St., according to a news release from Doug Upshaw, director of human resources and communication for Hot Springs School District.

Once officers determined the school grounds were safe, the lockdown was lifted, Upshaw said.

Officers and detectives at the scene of the shooting searched along a hillside next to the fenced-in park near the corner of Wade and Potter streets. It was believed the robbers fled into the wooded area located between Potter and Cypressvale streets.

A police dog was brought in to attempt to track them, but the robbers were not located after searching for several minutes throughout the wooded area and surrounding streets.

A witness, Jose Santillan, said the victim walked over to the area near the park where he met up with two black males, one of whom was wearing a red hat, and talked to them.

Santillan said he heard a gunshot and then saw the two black males running away. He said he didn't know what might have prompted the shooting.

Zaner said it was still under investigation.

State Desk on 05/06/2016

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