Athens police were searching for man Monday night who robbed, pistol whipped and shot a 28-year-old Athens man earlier in the day.

Mikia Wood, 28, of 2115 Aretha St., Athens, was taken to Athens-Limestone Hospital by ambulance where he was being treated for wounds to his head due to being hit with the pistol and for a gunshot wound to his left.

Lt.-Detective Floyd Johnson said police believe they know the identity of the suspect and were in the process Monday night of obtaining robbery and assault warrants against the man.

Johnson said police received calls shortly before 1 a.m. Monday from residents of Aretha Street and Stanford Street areas reporting that a man had been shot.

“The victim apparently ran from Aretha Street where he was shot to Stanford Street,” Johnson said. “That is when residents of the area called police to report it.”

Wood told investigators that a man who he thought was a friend got into his car with him and asked to borrow some money.

Wood said he told the man he didn’t have any money and the man pulled a gun and hit him over the head with it several times.

Wood told investigators that he struggled to get out of the car and the man followed him and shot him in the foot, just above ankle.

“We believe the suspect is a 26-year-old Athens man and we think he used a 9 milimeter handgun,” Johnson said. “We are stilll searching for him, but expect to make an arrest before the night is over.

“The victim ran to Stanford Street to get help,” Johnson said. “He was hit several times in the head with the gun. He said the suspect told him that he was going to take what ever money he had and then started hitting him.”

Johnson would not identify the suspect until police obtained warrants for his arrest.

“We know he is orginally from Athens, but he has also lived in Decatur and Huntsville,” he said. “He could be back in Huntsville or Decatur. We are searching for him and hopefully we will have him in custody by morning (Tuesday).