By Joe Johnson
An Athens man was reportedly shot during an attempted armed robbery early Saturday.
An Athens-Clarke County police spokesman said investigators “were not discounting” the possibility that the shooting was related to three armed robberies that occurred Sunday morning in the general area of the shooting.
According to police, the 32-year-old victim said he was walking on Harris Street at about 3:40 a.m. Saturday when he encountered two black teens who were accompanied by three females in a vehicle, one of whom the victim knew as “Mercedes.”
The victim said during the robbery attempt he struggled and was shot in both legs by one of the two suspects, according to police.
Police did not specify whether the incident occurred on North or South Harris street.
Police said they learned about the shooting from a clerk at America’s Best Value Inn at 898 W. Broad St., who reported that people were outside the motel with guns, police said. The clerk also said that a man had been shot on Harris Street.
Police said that an officer who responded to the clerk’s call found the victim walking on Harris toward West Broad, his pants bloodied and holding money in his hand.
The victim said he had tried to rent a room at America’s Best Inn, but the clerk refused to accommodate him “due to the individuals that were accompanying him (presumably the females),” an officer wrote in a police incident report.
The victim was transported to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center where he was reported to be in stable condition.
Two of Sunday morning's robberies happened on West Hancock Street, police said, and the third occurred on Dearing Street.
Crime stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspects.
Anyone with information should contact Det. Scott Black at (762) 400-7058 or scott.black@accgov.com.
Anonymous calls can be made to the Crime Stoppers confidential tip line at 706-705-4775.