SALISBURY — Deputies are investigating a shooting that left a man in the hospital with a gunshot wound to his buttocks.

Deputies initially responded to the incident after a driver flagged down troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol in Woodleaf and said she had just shot someone around 4 a.m. on Sunday, according to a spokesperson for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. 

The driver allegedly said that the shooting victim was a male passenger in the vehicle who had gotten out of the car after he was shot.

While en route to the location of the driver, deputies were informed that the victim was likely in the vicinity of the Needmore Road and Geter Road intersection. Deputies then searched for the victim, finding him lying on his side on the roadway. A deputy reportedly noticed an entry wound on the man’s buttocks and began to administer first aid. The victim said that he was walking along the road when someone drove by and shot him from behind.

Deputies then went to the location of the driver and searched the car. They reportedly found a Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun, one bullet shell casing and one of the victim’s shoes.

The victim was treated on scene by EMS personnel and transported to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.

The investigation of the incident is ongoing and no charges had been filed as of Monday.