ST. LOUIS • A robbery victim complied with the robber's demands, but was shot anyway Monday night in the city's Central West End neighborhood.

The holdup was at about 10:50 p.m. in the 500 block of North Sarah Street.

Police say the victim, 37, was walking north on Sarah when a man asked him for a cigarette. He said he didn't have a cigarette and kept walking.

Minutes later, the same man approached the victim again -- this time pulling a gun in a robbery.The gunman searched the victim and took his cell phone, cash and belt, police say. He then fired shots, hitting the victim in the shoulder.

A passing motorist saw the injured victim and took him to a hospital, police say.

The suspect is a black man, 20 to 25 years old, 5-foot-7 to 6-foot tall. He had a medium build, weighed 150 to 170 pounds. He had a dark complexion, long dreadlocks and wore blue jean shorts and a gray athletic shirt with blue lettering.