GATES – A shooting here Friday night has left one man hospitalized and his assailant sought by the Gates County Sheriff’s Office.

Gates County Sheriff Ed Webb said that 45-year-old Blaine Riddick of 195 Johnny Harrell Road, Gates, remains in “guarded condition” at Sentera Norfolk General Hospital after being shot multiple times at around 8 p.m. on Jan. 30.

“We received a call in regards to a shooting at that address and when my officers arrived they heard a cry for help and located the victim on the floor with blood around him,” Webb said.

After deputies secured the residence, Gates County EMS was permitted to enter the home at which time they began to administer aid to the victim.

Nightengale (medical transport helicopter) was summoned to the scene and airlifted Riddick to the hospital.

Further investigation inside the residence revealed several bullet holes discovered in a wall and a TV set.

Webb said a probe is now underway to determine the caliber of the weapon used.

“The victim wasn’t able to tell us a lot about the incident or perhaps who the shooter was,” Webb said.

Sheriff Webb said his investigators, Glynda Parker and Darroyl Brown, had conducted several interviews based on the information they had at the current time.

Additionally, 14 members of the Gates County Search and Rescue Team spent Sunday afternoon combing the area around the victim’s residence searching for evidence. Webb said none was found.

“There are a lot of rumors going around about this shooting,” Webb noted. “We don’t deal with rumors.

We don’t make arrests based on rumors. If someone out there has some concrete evidence or information connected to this case, please give us a call.”

The Gates County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 252-357-0210.