Man robbed, attacked by six men on River Road

Columbus police are trying to identify and locate the six men who violently robbed a man late Wednesday at the intersection of River Road and Neil Drive.

Authorities said the victim, who was held at gunpoint and punched in the head during the 11:50 p.m. incident, refused medical treatment.

An officer was called to the Piggly Wiggly at 4916 River Road around 11:50 p.m. to investigate the armed robbery. He spoke to the victim upon arrival.

The man reported that he was walking north on River Road near Neil Drive when six black male strangers who were walking south on River Road approached him. All of the men appeared to be about 6 feet tall, five of them were wearing dark pants and black or blue hoodies and one of them was wearing a red long-sleeved sweatshirt, the victim noted.

The suspect wearing the red sweatshirt allegedly aimed a pistol at the victim and told him to empty his pockets. Then two of the suspects reportedly punched him on the side of his head and took his iPhone 6 Plus valued at $600 before all the thieves ran across the street, over the railroad tracks and onto Meritas Drive.

The responding officer was investigating when he saw a black man at the Shell gas station at 4500 River Road who appeared to match the victim’s description of one of the suspects.

He approached the suspected robber, who was wearing black shoes with white soles, dark pants and a black hoodie. The man pulled pistol from his pocket before fleeing from police and heading toward the railroad tracks behind the gas station.

The armed robbery is still under investigation.

Sarah Robinson: 706-571-8622, @sarahR_92

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Man robbed, attacked by six men on River Road."