Search Continues for Thief Who Shot Car Owner

Search Continues for Thief Who Shot Car Owner


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Whit Johnson reporting A man who tried to stop someone from stealing his car got shot outside his home this morning. Chopper Five shows that the search is on tonight for the shooter.

The West Point man who got shot is recovering at a hospital. Tonight, police have been looking for the suspect in Roy.

Search Continues for Thief Who Shot Car Owner

Authorities still don't know exactly who the suspect is. They put together a composite sketch, based on the victim's description. That actually lead to a man at a 7-11 store in Roy. But when police approached him, he ran away and still hasn't been found.

Authorities had their guns, their dogs, for a full search effort today in West Point for a man with a pistol who wasn't afraid to shoot.

Search Continues for Thief Who Shot Car Owner

Thad Johnson / Neighbor: "I heard yelling and car screeching and what I thought was a gun shot."

Monica Eddy / Neighbor: "As I got closer, it was Jimmy. It was my neighbor yelling 'help, help,' that he's been shot."

Search Continues for Thief Who Shot Car Owner

Around 6:00 this morning, Jim Castro was in his home near 36 South and 1700 West in West Point, pouring a cup of coffee. His Jeep was warming up in the driveway, when he realized that Jeep was being stolen.

Capt. Kenneth Payne / Davis County Sheriff's Office: "So he runs out, opens the passenger door and climbs in the vehicle and scuffles with the guy that's taking his Jeep."

The suspect pulled out a handgun and shot Castro in the stomach, then took off with the Jeep. The bullet went in one side of Castro's belly and out the other, leaving two wounds.

Castro called 911.

Castro: "Someone just stole my Jeep."

Search Continues for Thief Who Shot Car Owner

Dispatcher: "They stole your car?"

Castro: "(undecipherable).. and he shot me."

Dispatcher: "He shot you?"

Castro: "Yeah, it's really bleeding."

Dispatcher: "Where are you shot at?"

Castro: "In my stomach."

Neighbors rushed to his aid.

Thad Johnson / Neighbor: "He was actually just full of adrenaline. He was pacing up and down. I tried to get him to lay down and take it easy until the help could arrive."

Search Continues for Thief Who Shot Car Owner

The suspect dumped the Jeep behind an apartment complex a few blocks away.

With an armed man on the run, some schools in the area went on voluntary lock down.

Thad Johnson / Neighbor: "When neighbors started coming out, I was asking them, 'Did you hear the gun shots?' And just the shock on their faces that something like this would happen around here."

Then tonight, a man who may have matched the suspect description ran from police in Roy. Search efforts for him came up empty.

Authorities say Jim Castro's injuries are not life threatening.

They also ask if you know anything about the suspect, call the Davis County Sheriff's Office.

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