Georgia State football player confronts criminal

ATLANTA - Police said a thief caught breaking into a pickup truck near the Georgia State University football field on Moore Street, pulled a gun on a GSU football player.

Panthers football player Shavi Bash told police he was on the field at around 9:15 Monday morning when he heard a window shatter and turned to see an unidentified black male breaking into a gold Chevrolet 2500. The vehicle belonged to one of Bash's teammates.

Bash asked the suspect what he was doing. The thief then approached Bash, who was standing behind a chain link fence, and pulled out a handgun.

Bash walked off and reported the incident to his coaches. The gunman drove off in a grey 2001 Jeep Cherokee. GSU Police Chief Carlton Mullis said the vehicle was reported stolen out of Atlanta two hours earlier.

“When anything like this happens, we look at what happened and how can we do a better job. We will be increasing our presence in that area,” said Chief Mullis.

Two laptop computers as well as a bow and arrow set were reported stolen from the vehicle.

The suspect is described as a black male with dreadlocks, about 5'10".  He has tattoos on both arms.

Anyone with information is asked to contact GSU police or Crime Stoppers.