COVINGTON — Police are searching for the shooter of a man hospitalized Thursday night after he and his friends resisted a robbery attempt on their front porch.

        Carlos Aguilar of the 1200 block of Scott Boulevard was in fair condition Friday evening at University Hospital after being shot in the abdomen.

        Mr. Aguilar was sitting on his front porch with a group of acquaintances when about 10 other men, described as black males, tried to rob the group at 11:35 p.m. Thursday, according to Covington Police.

        When Mr. Aguilar and his friends refused to hand over any money, a fight broke out. Police said Mr. Aguilar was shot when he tried to escape by running into the home.

        Sgt. Teal Nally of Covington Police said detectives were having trouble getting information from witnesses, in part, because Mr. Aguilar and many of his friends speak only Spanish.

        Sgt. Nally said the area of 12th Street and Scott Boulevard is known for drug activity, but there was no indication that illegal drugs contributed to this shooting.

        It is the eighth shooting in Covington this year.

        Marjorie Reed, who rents an apartment in the same building, said the gunshot woke her up.

        “At first I thought it was fireworks,” the 19-year-old said. “Then I realized it was gunshots. I was scared.”

        She described Mr. Aguilar as a hard-working man who was sending money to Guatemala to support his family. Ms. Reed said Mr. Aguilar was known as “Tio,” the Spanish word for uncle.

        Ms. Reed said she believes the robbers thought Mr. Aguilar and the other Hispanics living at that address had cash hidden in their rooms that they planned to wire to their families in Central America.

        Gil Esparza, founder and director of the Hispanic Resource Center in Covington, said Hispanics are easy targets because they carry cash. He said it is difficult for them to open checking accounts without a Social Security card.

        Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Covington Police detective bureau at (859) 292-2234.

Police graduation a day of celebration, lessons
Inspectors wait to visit Woodbridge
Volunteers harder to find as spirit of Sept. 11 fades
Obituary: John Gimpel, artistic director for Gibson
Settlement plan gets $75,000
Three injured as van, train collide
Tristate A.M. Report
Faith matters
MCNUTT: Neighborhoods
RADEL: Strangers
SAMPLES-GUTIERREZ: Phone adventures
Clermont coroner resigns
Harrison principal named best in Ohio
Jury acquits Bristol's dancer
Patient abuse case back to trial Monday
Police seize $170,000 of cocaine
Ruling on officer next week
Warren County GOP still snubbing Taft
Agency wants public smoking ban
Family killings shake Fort Bragg
Man gets 23 years in fatal kidnap
Murder suspects could go free
Officials promise united economic growth campaign
Bellevue's popularity creates parking problem
Fifth-Third president donates for friend
Gun shop owner will fire on in court
Kentucky News Briefs
Pension boost overturned
Shooter sought after front porch robbery attempt
Two Ky.-Ind. bridges proposed