ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville police are asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect in an early morning assault and robbery that left two people injured outside a West Asheville business.
Officers responded around 6:07 a.m. Sunday to reports of a fight involving weapons in the 200 block of Smokey Park Highway, according to a news release from the Asheville Police Department.
When officers arrived, they found two victims with injuries. One was transported to Mission Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the other was treated at the scene for minor wounds.
Investigators say a verbal argument between two men inside the business escalated after one of the men left, then returned and attacked the other outside, striking him repeatedly in the head with an unknown weapon. When bystanders attempted to intervene, the suspect assaulted one of them and then stole a large sum of money from the victim’s wallet before fleeing, police said.
Surveillance footage captured the incident, and detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting TIP2APD to 847411 or through the APD mobile app by searching “Asheville PD” in the app store.