The Jones County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in the arrest of two individuals for a recent armed robbery that took place in the parking lot of a local store.
A report of the incident by JCSO Deputy Eric Reno states he was dispatched to the store on Shurling Drive at noon, Nov. 9.
Reno said, when he arrived, he spoke with a witness who reported calling 911. The witness said two men with a firearm robbed a female at gunpoint and took her vehicle. The vehicle was reported as a gold Honda.
The witness said the robbery happened quickly, and he only saw certain aspects of it due to his location. He took the deputy to the victim.
Reno said the victim was in a distraught, emotional state after being robbed. He said he asked if she would like him to call EMS to assist her, but she refused.
The victim told him she was about to enter her car to leave when two black males suddenly appeared. She said one was carrying a black pistol and pointed it at her face. The robber told her not to say anything and not to go into the store, or he would shoot her.
The victim said she was ordered to give up her keys and valuables. She was able to remember that the second robber was wearing a red hoodie. Both were wearing masks.
Reno said the victim told him she was in fear of losing her life and surrendered the vehicle and possessions to the robbers. She said the robbers fled the scene in her vehicle and traveled toward Macon.
The deputy also spoke with another witness that saw the two men walking.
Reno said he was able to look at the store’s security camera and watched the robbery. He said he could see the victim putting belongings into the trunk, and the men came into the frame approaching from the northwest corner.
The deputy said the first man violently rushed the victim, who backed away. The second robber was seen running behind the vehicle and getting into the passenger’s seat. The vehicle backed up and headed toward Macon.
Reno said the entire incident took about a minute and 15 seconds. A copy of the video was submitted to the JCSO for evidence.
JCSO Investigator Lt. Kenny Gleaton said he was advised of the armed robbery by Sgt. Travis Walker. He said the stolen vehicle was a 2007 Honda Accord, gold in color.
Gleaton said he put at a “be on the lookout” report on the vehicle with descriptions of the robbers.
The investigator said Walker obtained the tag number for the stolen vehicle and had it flagged on the FLOCK camera system. No hits on the system had been reported.
Gleaton said he searched the wooded area from the store to Skyline Drive. He was able to locate footwear impressions in the area where the men approached the victim.
The Sheriff’s Office posted about the armed robbery on Facebook Nov. 13, asking for the public’s help in finding the offenders.
The post stated the suspects fled in the victim’s vehicle and drove into Bibb County.
They were described as two black males, one wearing a white T-shirt and black pants, the other wearing a red hoodie and black pants.
The stolen vehicle is a 2007 Honda Accord LX, gold in color, bearing Georgia license plate PTE1677.
“If you have any information as to the identity of the suspects or the location of the stolen vehicle, please contact our office at 478-986-3489,” the post reported. “You may also submit a tip through our app or website. All tips will remain anonymous.”
