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Police: White City shooting targeted robber James Bennett Wednesday Mar 21, 2018 at 7:41 AM Mar 21, 2018 at 3:58 PM Nick Morgan Mail Tribune @mtcrimebeat Jackson County sheriff’s deputies believe that a Medford man found shot in a White City neighborhood Tuesday night was involved in a home invasion robbery at an apartment half a block away from where authorities found him. James Steven Bennett, 30, of the 700 block of Dakota Street, is believed to have suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen while attempting to rob an apartment in the 7600 block of Division Road at about 8 p.m., according to Jackson County sheriff’s Sgt. Julie Denney. Police have not released the shooter’s name, but Denney said the person is cooperating with authorities. Bennett is hospitalized at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center with a single gunshot wound, according to Asante spokeswoman Lauren Van Sickle. He was listed in fair condition. Bennett will be arrested once he’s released from the hospital, according to Denney. Bennett is one of at least two suspects believed to have robbed the apartment, according to Denney, but detectives are still piecing together whether the robbery victim and Bennett knew each other prior to the crime. “The important thing we wanted to get out is that this wasn’t a random, drive-by shooting,” Denney said, adding that it’s not yet known why the robbers chose that particular apartment. Bennett called 911 at 8:19 p.m. seeking medical treatment, according to Denney. Sheriff’s deputies found him “about a half block away” from the apartment complex near the intersection of Division Road and Carr Street. A second person also called 911. Denney asks anyone with information to contact 541-776-7206, and reference case number 18-5518. Jackson County Circuit Court records show that Bennett has two pending felony drug cases, including charges of manufacturing, delivering and possessing methamphetamine and possessing heroin from an October 2016 Jackson County Sheriff’s Office arrest, and a March 2017 arrest for meth possession in Medford. Bennett made court appearances on the cases March 8 and was released from Jackson County Jail on his own recognizance March 9. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat.