Landscaper shot during robbery in Decatur, 2 men arrested
DECATUR, Ga. - Decatur Police have arrested two men accused of shooting a landscaper during an attempted robbery.
Surveillance video provided to FOX 5 shows the moments when 17-year-old Jonquai Holt and 22-year-old Jeffrey Thorpe ran through nearby yards trying to escape after the shooting.
Lt. John Bender with Decatur Police said the two men robbed a landscaping crew just after 5 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Clairmont Avenue and Maediris Drive. Police reported that one man was shot during the incident and taken to the hospital.
"I was kind of shocked," said Josh Rich, a nearby resident. "There's a lot of traffic in the afternoons, and it backs up far. On the corner is a bus stop for kids. All of this could have happened around that time."
Residents like Rich expressed concerns about safety in the area and called for increased police presence.
"This is a pretty quiet neighborhood, but over the past year, we have seen a few incidents where I see a lack of police presence. I think that could help deter some of it," Rich added.
Lt. Bender noted that landscapers have become frequent targets of thieves across the metro area.
"Thieves think they are an easy target because they have a large truck with thousands of dollars in equipment left there on the street," Bender said. "The best thing for them to do is secure vehicles and have them in a locked, closed trailer."
Bender also advised landscapers to take precautions by maintaining visibility around their work area.
"If they can have someone in the front of the house and the back of the house, it can help keep an eye on things," he said.
First responders urged victims of robberies to prioritize their safety.
"Hand over the item and call the police. Be a really good witness to what happened, but don't try to resolve it right then," Bender advised.
Holt and Thorpe are now in custody at the DeKalb County Jail, facing charges of firearm possession, armed robbery, and aggravated assault.
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