(Dodge City, KS) (westernkansasnews.com)

What was first believed to be blunt force trauma turned out to be a fatal gunshot wound inflicted during an attempted robbery in Dodge City.  Dodge City Police Chief Craig Mellecker reports that Dodge City police officers and Ford County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Avenue F at 3:34 Sunday morning in response to the report of a medical problem.  When law enforcement arrived on scene they discovered that 24-year old Dodge City resident Miguel Tol-Juarez was unresponsive suffering from what at first appeared to be blunt force trauma.  Mellecker says the victim was transported to Western Plains Regional Hospital for treatment where it was discovered that the victim had actually been shot.  Juarez died at the hospital a short while later from his injuries.

Mellecker says officers interviewed several witnesses who reported that the victim and others had been confronted by three suspects demanding money.  Juarez was shot by at least one of the suspects during the confrontation.  The three suspects then fled from the 800 block of Avenue F on feet.  Authorities are not attempting identify and locate the suspects. 

Anyone with information on the shooting is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers, toll free, at (877) 424-4414.  Tipsters may remain anonymous.