NORTH OGDEN — A man who was robbed and shot Saturday while operating a corn stand in North Ogden had been held up at gunpoint at the same location about a month ago, said the owner of the farm who supplied him with corn.
Layne McFarland, owner of McFarland Farms in West Weber, identified the victim as Dusty Moore of West Weber. McFarland said Moore has been buying corn from his farm and operating a corn stand at the corner of a small strip mall at 1920 N. Washington Blvd. for about two years.
Moore was robbed at the same location about a month ago, McFarland said in a phone interview Saturday night.
“He didn’t go back to work for a few days (after the robbery),” said McFarland. “He was jittery.”
Police would not say if Saturday’s robbery is related to the one a month ago.
McFarland said that shortly after Moore began operating the stand Saturday morning he was robbed of his money pouch and then shot in the abdomen by the gunman. It’s unlikely that Moore had much money because he had only just started working, said McFarland.
“A guy is willing to shoot a man over a small amount of money,” he said. “It’s crazy.”
McFarland said he has spoken with Moore’s wife, who told him the victim underwent surgery Saturday at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden. He added that McFarland Farms has been supplying corn to independent vendors for 25 years and that Saturday’s shooting is the first of its kind. McFarland Farms supplies corn to about five area vendors.
The robbery was reported to police at 11:42 a.m., according to a news release issued by North Ogden Police Detective Sgt. Clark Crowther.
It said the 30-year-old victim was selling corn from a stand when he was approached by a man between 25 and 30 years old, 5 foot 6 inches to 5 foot 8 inches tall and 190 pounds. The release did not identify Moore by name.
The suspect appeared to be Hispanic, according to the news release, and was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.
The assailant demanded money from the corn vendor. During the confrontation, Moore was shot with a handgun, and the perpetrator ran from the area into a residential area east of the crime scene.
The residential neighborhood east of the crime scene tensed as word of the incident spread from house to house, one resident said. People were advised to lock their homes and stay inside to not give the fleeing gunman a place to hide from police.
“That didn’t come directly from the police to us, but a man who had talked with police went through the neighborhood spreading the word,” said Teresa Murray. “We were told to lock the doors because (the gunman) might try to enter an unlocked house to hide. After that, we helped spread the word to our friends and neighbors.”
The victim was able to call police despite his wound. Paramedics from North View Fire Department also responded and treated the man’s wound at the scene before taking him to a local hospital.
Officers from North Ogden and surrounding cities answered the call and searched the area for the shooter, but he was not found, the news release said.
Crowther said Saturday night police had not located the gunman and were interviewing individuals who may be involved in the robbery.
Anyone with information about the shooting should contact North Ogden police at 801-629-8221.
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