Royal man shot

ROYAL CITY - With the chief and both line officers on the case, Royal City Police have not been able to identify a suspect, or even a person of interest in a Tuesday, Nov. 18, morning shooting in the Royal Coachman trailer park.

One of the ironies of the case is that Royal Coachman is walking distance from the RCPD.

Police Chief Darin Smith said Friday that nothing significant has surfaced in interviews with witnesses or possible witnesses.

"We've contacted everybody twice, and we're going to do it again,"

Smith said he can't make out whether people are afraid to speak up or are telling the truth.

"People are shot for a reason," Smith said. "This could be a case of mistaken identity."

Making matters difficult is the fact the 29 year old male Hispanic victim was still teetering between life and death in a hospital on Friday. Smith has spoken with him, and about all he can say is yes or no.

All Smith and his officers have been able to piece together is that the shooter was a Hispanic male. He ran passed the victim at about 10 a.m., pulled out a gun, started shooting and kept on running. The victim says he has no idea who the shooter was.

Smith said the victim believes he was shot from the front. The entrance and exit wounds indicate he was shot from behind, Smith said.

He believes the victim turned away when the shooting started, accounting for the rear entry wounds.

So far, Smith said, there is no forensic evidence. No bullets or cartridges have been found.

He was going to comb the trailer park again on Friday with a metal detector.

Smith has not released the name of the victim on the chance that might complicate the investigation.

The victim was still in critical condition as of Friday.