UPDATE 8:05 p.m.: Two sought for questioning in shooting

Two people are being sought for questioning in connection with an attempted murder in the hills off Brunswick Canyon Road this afternoon, an official said.

According to Carson City Sheriff's Detective Bob Motamenpour, officers are searching for Miguel Barajas-Zarate, 31, and Ashley Fortune, 21. The couple is believed to be in either a Red S10 pickup truck, or a green Isuzu Rodeo.

This afternoon about 3:30 p.m. a 53-year-old Carson City man, who asked that his name be withheld, said he was down by the river when he saw a woman hunched over in the brush. When she saw him the woman began to plead with him for help.

"At first I thought there was a rafting accident because she was right by the river," he said. "But as I got closer to her, it was fairly obvious that it was more than that."

The 23-year-old woman from Reno, whose identity has not been released, was shot in the stomach and struck a number of times in the head with a large rock, said Motamenpour.

The passerby called 911 and then helped the victim into his truck.

"She was a strong girl for what she'd gone through," he said.

He said that as he drove the mile out of the hills toward Bertagnolli Aggregates in the 7400 block of Brunswick Canyon Road to meet with rescuers, the woman was "in total fear," repeatedly asking him if a red car was coming.

She told investigators she believed she'd been shot two hours before the passerby found her, said Motamenpour.

He said the victim's injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. The gunshot wound to her stomach entered on her right side and exited the middle of her back, missing her organs. She also suffered a depressed skull fracture.

Motamenpour said its believed that the victim was last with Barajas-Zarate. He is known to run around with Fortune.

Barajas-Zarate is described as 5-feet-7-inches tall, weighing 165 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. Fortune is described as 5-feet-6-inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information on either Barajas-Zarate's or Fortune's whereabouts is asked to call Carson City Sheriff's dispatch at 887-2007.

Secret Witness also offers rewards for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in a crime. To report an anonymous tip to Secret Witness call 322-4900.

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UPDATE: A Carson City man who asked not to be identified said he was by the Carson River when he saw a woman hunched over and covered in blood. He said she begged him to help her.

"You could just see the blood caked in her hair," the man said. He said she was terrified that the assailant would return.

He assisted her to his car and drove her down the road to meet with sheriff's officers.

Police say the woman was shot with a small-caliber handgun.

The assailant is known to the victim.

The Carson City Sheriff's Office is responding to a reported shooting on Brunswick Canyon Road off Deer Run Road, 1 mile past Bertonelli's mill.

A 23-year-old Reno woman was reportedly shot in the stomach and struck in the head with a heavy object, police said. A passerby found her. Care Flight is responding.

Deputies are looking for a red 1999 Crown Victoria driven by a Hispanic male.

If you see the car, call 911.

Details will be posted as they become available.