In a crime that may have been common a century ago but is most unusual today, Fort Worth police are searching for an armed robber who is targeting men on horseback. Two victims have been shot.

The bandit startles his victims by jumping out of the brush along riding trails, confronting riders with a pistol and demanding money, police said.

"Before we'd ride our horses in peace, no problems," said Adrian Castillo, who lives in the neighborhood near Echo Lake in southeast Fort Worth. "Now we're looking every second that we get. We look around."

Jose Castro said he was recently riding a horse with his friend Fernando Villa when the gunman surprised them.

"I thought he was going to shoot us," Castro said in Spanish. "He said he was going to shoot us."

The robber also threatened to shoot their horses, Castro said.

Castro said his horse ran, but Villa stayed behind.

Villa said he told the bandit in broken English, "Me no got no money."

The bandit fired shots, he said.

Castro said when he heard the gunfire, he thought Villa had been shot.

But both men ended up getting away without getting hurt and without giving the man any money.

Two other victims have been shot in the leg, police said.

The same suspect has struck at least four times since October, said Fort Worth police Det. Francisco Solano.

"We're afraid the acts of violence will continue and a victim is shot in the upper torso where it could result in more serious injury," Solano said.

Police have released a photo of the suspect. They said he may wear a black Texas A&M baseball cap.

"It sounds like he has no care for anybody," Castillo said.