JONES COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Two juveniles have been arrested and charged in an alleged armed robbery attempt that took place in a south Jones County neighborhood.
One of the juveniles was shot in the arm during the incident that took place Sept. 12. He was treated and released and now resides in the RYDC with this codefendant.
Both of the suspected offenders were charged with three counts of aggravated assault, attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm during commission of certain crimes and possession of a firearm by a juvenile.
The report of the incident by Jones County Sheriff Office Deputy Matthew Dennis stated he was dispatched to a call on Ruby Drive at approximately 2:10 a.m. Sept. 12. The officer said he was informed while en route that several reports of gunshots in the area had been received.
Dennis said he saw a black male standing by the road on Ruby Drive, holding a lighted phone as he arrived. When he got closer, he saw there were two males, one was shirtless, and the other was holding his arm where he had been shot.
The deputy asked what happened and was told they were walking down the road when a car came by and started shooting at them. Dennis said as he was talking to them, he started rendering aid to the young man with the bullet wounds.
The officer said a man walked out of the darkness and said he was the one who shot the juvenile. He said the man stated the two juveniles attempted to rob him at gun point and shot at him.
At that point Dennis said he detained all three of the suspects and advised dispatch. The deputy said as other officers arrived, he restarted the first aid process. The officer said he obtained the names of the suspects while waiting for EMS to arrive. He said an EMT told him that the juvenile who was shot had three wounds on his arm.
The wounded juvenile was transported to the Medical Center and the other juvenile was taken into custody. Officers searched the scene and surrounding area, but the guns used by the juveniles were not found. They did find bullet holes in the robbery victim’s vehicle, projectiles and shell casings.
Dennis said the robbery victim told him he was sitting in his car with his friend in his driveway when he saw two males dressed all in black, wearing hoods and masks, walking toward the vehicle from Joycliff Road. He said one asked for a lighter, and the other put a gun to his head and said, “You know what time it is, give it up.”
The complainant said when he refused to give them anything, the male fired his gun. The man said that was when he returned fire, striking the offender. The complainant said he left the scene in his car and the passenger left the area on foot.
Dennis said the cell phones of the suspects were taken for evidence. He said once he was able to process the scene, he found a blood trail leading from the driveway into the carport. The deputy said he found a black book bag and black mask at the back of the carport. A black hoodie was located in the front yard that had blood on it and a bullet hole near the wrist.
Dennis said a smaller black hoodie was later located by JCSO Sgt. David Little along the fence line and bushes.
In a Sept. 15 interview with JCSO Investigator John Simmons, he said he obtained a recorded statement from the complainant at the Jones County Law Enforcement Center. The complainant told him about sitting in the driveway talking with his friend and the juveniles, all dressed in black, walking up behind them.
Simmons said when the juvenile shot at the complainant, the bullet hit the door frame, otherwise he felt the man would have most likely been killed. He said the complainant told him he already had his gun in his hand when he saw the suspects walking up.
“He said he had an uneasy feeling when saw them and unloaded his pistol at the offenders after being shot at,” Simmons said. “I’m not sure how many shots hit the juvenile, but he had three holes in his arm.”
He said as the juveniles fled the scene, more gun shots were fired. It is believed that both juveniles had guns, but they had not been recovered.
The investigator said the bullet holes and statements of other witnesses supported the complainant’s version of events. He was not charged in the shooting.
Simmons said the investigation of the attempted robbery is ongoing. He said it appears the crime was drug related and there is a possibility of more arrests.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the JSCO at 478-986-3489 or submit information using the JSCO app.
