Man shot, critically injured in downtown Olympia. Police trying to ID suspects
The Olympia Police Department is investigating a shooting and a separate robbery detectives believe were committed by the same three people on Dec. 21 in downtown Olympia.
OPD spokesperson Paul Lower told The Olympian that police were dispatched to a robbery at around 7:55 p.m. Sunday night in the 400 block of Franklin Street Northeast. He said the person who called police reported he had been sitting on the sidewalk with some friends when a group of three approached and asked for a cigarette.
Lower said the victim, an adult man, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and one of the men in the group grabbed it from his hands and walked off. The victim attempted to re-contact the man for the cigarettes, and another member of the group shoved the victim away. Lower said the group then walked westbound toward the waterfront.
While police were investigating the robbery, Lower said the Olympia Fire Department was dispatched to a person in the 400 block of Capitol Way North, just a couple blocks away from the robbery, who was having difficulty breathing.
Lower said as they were treating the man, medics found that he had been shot in the abdomen. Lower said OPD was called to the scene, and the man said he was walking along the roadway when a group of three approached him. The man suddenly felt winded and hurt, Lower said. Police believe it was the same group from the robbery.
Lower said the gunshot victim was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital and is in critical condition.
He said detectives are actively working as many leads as possible. He provided descriptions of the three suspects, based on eyewitness testimony: The suspect with the handgun, and who allegedly confronted the robbery and assault victim, was described as a Black male, heavy set, and wearing a black handkerchief on his head, with a gray or dark blue jacket, black pants and white shoes.
Another suspect was described as a Black male in his 20s, wearing a white t-shirt, blue or gray pants with a white line on the side, and white shoes. The third suspect was described as a white male with a thin build and black hair, wearing a black wind breaker-style jacket with a gray hoodie underneath, and blue jeans with black and white shoes.
Lower said anyone with information that could assist detectives in identifying the suspects should call 360-753-8300.
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