Teenage, two juveniles arrested in connection with carjacking, Rockdale
Teenage, two juveniles arrested in connection with carjacking
By Larry Stanford
Larry Stanford
CONYERS — An 18-year-old is facing charges of armed robbery and obstruction of officers after an alleged carjacking and pursue. Two 16-year-old juveniles are also being investigated in the incident.
According to a report from the Conyers Police Department, about 1:40 a.m. on March 23, an officer responded to the Kroger store at Ga. Highway one hundred thirty eight in reference to a carjacking.
The victim told the officer he had exited the store and walked to his car, which he had parked away from the store. When he embarked to get into his silver two thousand five Chevrolet Malibu, a masculine wearing a mask and carrying a handgun told him to get out. He did so and the masculine and a 2nd masculine got into the vehicle and drove away at a high rate of speed.
The victim said his cellphone was in the car, and panicked, he ran about a mile home to his house to call police, rather than going back inwards the store. He met the officer back at the store and could only describe the suspects as being youthful black masculines wearing masks and gloves.
A BOLO was put out on the vehicle, and at about Two:15 a.m., a Rockdale County Sheriff’s deputy made contact with the vehicle at the QuikTrip on Salem Road. The Conyers officer responded to the scene and as he arrived, he spotted the Malibu pull out of the parking lot and turn onto a road leading to Salem Road. The officer turned on his emergency equipment and began pursuing the vehicle, assisted by deputies also in pursuit.
The suspects crossed over Salem Road onto Ellington Drive. They turned right onto Arbor Glen, with the left wheels going onto the median and then back off, and the right wheels going onto the sidewalk. The vehicle struck a street sign and went into one of the yards before going back onto the roadway. At the intersection, the driver went straight, striking a cable box and coming to a stop when he hit a tree.
The driver hopped out of the driver’s side and two other suspects leaped out of the passenger’s side and all three fled on foot.
The Sheriff’s Office deployed its K9 unit to track the suspects. The driver and one of the passengers were apprehended on Exchange Place about Two:48 a.m. At Trio:22 a.m., the third suspect was captured by Rockdale County on Avalon Boulevard near Plane Shoals. All three were transferred to Conyers Police custody.
The 18-year-old has been identified as Leo Justin Gittens of Conyers. He has been charged with armed robbery and obstruction of officers. The two 16-year-olds have not been identified and charges have yet to be filed as the investigation proceeds.