NATCHEZ — Natchez Police believe two crimes reported Friday night — a shooting and an armed robbery — are likely related.

Calls of each crime came in separately at approximately 9:40 p.m.

Police were dispatched to Natchez Regional Medical center, where the shooting victim was, and to Maryland Heights on Dumas Drive, where the robbery reportedly occurred.

Detective Jerry Ford said he is attempting to verify the story of the victim and the man who was robbed. He would not release the names of either man.

The man who reported the robbery claimed he was walking down Dumas Drive and flagged down a driver that he knew to ask for a ride.

The man got into the backseat of the vehicle until it came to a stop farther down the road.

The passenger got out of the vehicle, pulled out a gun and demanded the man give him all his belongings, Ford said.

He gave him his money and his cell phone.

At some point after that a gun was fired, Ford said and the bullet grazed the neck of the driver.

No charges have been filed.

“Right now I’m issuing an investigation to find out who actually fired the gun and at what point the shooting took place,” Ford said. “We’re trying to find out if it was during the robbery or after for retaliation.”

The victim was released from Natchez Regional, Ford said.

Ford said no gun was found when officers responded.