Man wounded in South Side robbery

YOUNGSTOWN — Police are looking for a group of men, one of whom shot a man in the back while trying to commit a robbery on the South Side early today.

According to police, a group of men where trying to enter a home in the 500 block of Cleveland Street just after 1:30 a.m. when they were accosted by a group of five men a short distance away.

One of the men pulled a gun and forced a 22-year-old man to the side of the house. Once on the side of the house, the man was ordered to the ground and forced to empty his pockets. The man had no money and nothing to give the would-be thief, who ran off when gunfire came from the front of the house.

The gunfire turned out to be aimed at another one of the men traveling with the 22-year-old robbery victim.

Reports say the group of men arriving at the house tried to scramble for the door after the 22-year-old man was taken to the side of the house, but one of the men in the group pulled a gun and began shooting. Three of those shots hit a 19-year-old city man in the back and shoulder.

Police saw two bullet holes in the man’s back and a third wound to his upper arm near the biceps. The man is in St. Elizabeth Health Center and listed in stable condition.

Officers found two shell casings on the sidewalk in front of the house. Police also have the possible identities of two of the men involved in the robbery and shooting.