Suspects sought in shooting of Fort Valley man during armed robbery

A 19-year-old Fort Valley man was shot outside his apartment Wednesday night in an armed robbery.

Diandre Oates was treated and released from the Medical Center, Navicent Health, for a gunshot wound to his left leg, said Fort Valley police Capt. Jerrell Smith. Oates' girlfriend, who was with him, was not hurt.

About 9:30 p.m., Oates was walking to his Indian Oaks apartment at 1103 East Church St. when five men came up from behind and ordered him to the ground, Smith said. His girlfriend, who was about 10 feet behind him and fiddling with her cell phone, also was ordered to the ground.

The men demanded Oates' money, keys and cell phone, but Oates said he didn't have any money, Smith said.

Oates was shot as he got up to check on his girlfriend, Smith said.

Public Safety Director Lawrence Spurgeon said detectives have been following leads on suspects in the shooting. No arrests had been made as of late Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information is asked to call Fort Valley police at 478-825-3383.

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Suspects sought in shooting of Fort Valley man during armed robbery ."