Police: Carjacking suspect also connected to home invasion
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The man suspected of carjacking a teacher outside of a South Fulton elementary school is in custody after he was apparently wounded Tuesday morning in what Gwinnett County police call a drug-related home invasion.
Police sources tell FOX 5’s Aungelique Proctor the same man may be involved in another incident where a man was shot earlier Tuesday in Atlanta.
The bizarre crime spree began early Monday morning before the start of classes at Heritage Elementary School in South Fulton.
South Fulton Police said a teacher had just parked in front of the school when a masked gunman demanded the keys to her car.
The teacher wasn’t hurt, but she lost her car. She told officers the carjacker jumped in her white 2015 Dodge Challenger and took off down Old National Highway.
MORE: Teacher carjacked outside elementary school
Police say the second crime happened Tuesday morning when Gwinnett County Police responded to a shooting call 3177 Terrance Court in Peachtree Corners.
Police said the same white Dodge Challenger was on the scene of what they called a drug-related home invasion, where the occupant fired back at another man who entered his apartment.
Police believe the home invader is the same man who committed the school carjacking.
"At around 7 o’clock this morning, we received information that somebody had arrived at Grady Hospital that is possibly connected to our home invasion. So, we are working closely with the Atlanta Police Department in trying to figure out exactly what the connection is," Cpl. Michele Pihera said. “But we also know there is a vehicle involved, a white Dodge, and we’re working with South Fulton police to see exactly how that vehicle is related to a crime in their jurisdiction.”
The next incident happened at around 4:20 a.m. Tuesday at 901 Bolton Road when Atlanta police officers responded to a call of a person shot.
According to a statement from Atlanta police investigator James White, officers found a 19-year-old male with gunshot wounds to the arm and stomach.
White said the victim was reluctant to provide any information to officers but indicated he was driving a white Dodge Challenger.
Investigating officers learned the car is the same vehicle that was taken in the Monday morning carjacking in South Fulton.
A police source tells FOX 5 the teacher's 2015 white Dodge Challenger was recovered on the Bolton Road scene and the 19-year-old was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital.
The principal of Heritage Elementary sent a letter to parents Monday explaining what happened, urging everyone to be cautious and saying school police will now be staggering their shifts to make sure an officer is on duty during the early morning and into late in the evening.
The carjacking isn’t the only thing that made parents nervous Monday. Just as school was about to be dismissed there was a report of shots fired at a nearby apartment complex. The school went on lockdown until the "all clear" was given.
"That shouldn't happen, especially early in the morning like that when kids are arriving at school, get off the bus and the teacher gets hijacked,” said Eric Baugh who lives near the school.
Atlanta police have charged the 19-yr-old man from the Bolton Road location with theft by receiving stolen property.