A Hartford man is recovering after he was shot outside of the AmeriWood store in Dowagiac.

It happened around 10 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, at the parking lot of the furniture manufacturer, where the victim works.

The 21 year-old victim says the man and four others attempted to rob him, and when he tried to escape he was shot several times.

He told police some of the the group took off in his vehicle after he was shot.

That vehicle was found abandoned later outside of town.

The suspects are described as five black men between the ages of 18 and 20.

Dowagiac Police released the following information about the shooting:

Dowagiac Police were dispatched to Ameriwood in Dowagiac at approximately 10:10 P.M., for a male subject that had been shot.  Officers located the victim inside of the building being treated by employees of Ameriwood.

The investigation revealed that the victim, a 21 year old man from Hartford who is an employee of Ameriwood, had arrived for his shift.  He was followed into the parking lot by a dark colored SUV type vehicle that parked near his vehicle.  The victim was approached by one of the subjects from the suspect vehicle who pulled a gun and attempted to rob him of his money   The victim was then approached by 4 more subjects from the suspect vehicle.   A struggle ensued and the victim was shot several times as he ran away.  The suspects then took the victims vehicle and left the parking lot in both their vehicle as well as the victims vehicle. Officers located the victims vehicle outside of Dowagiac with no one with the vehicle. 

The victim was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, by PRIDE Ambulance where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.  The suspects are described as five black males approximately 18-20 years old.  The suspect with the gun was described as wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt and dirty blue jeans.  The suspects were driving a dark colored SUV, unknown make or model.  No further description was given.   

This incident remains under investigation.  Anyone with information is asked to call the Dowagiac Police Department at (269) 782-9743, or the Cass County Tip Line at (800) 462-9328.  Dowagiac Police were assisted by Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Officers with the Pokagon Tribal Police Department, and the Dowagiac Fire Department.