Four Gainesville men are in custody after robbery plans fell apart, and one suspect shot another, authorities said.
The incident began Jan. 31 when the four men met at a parking lot in Gainesville to discuss their plan to commit a robbery in Dawson County, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. However, one of the suspects, 24-year-old David Rivera, allegedly backed out.
Rivera left the parking lot and drove to his home off Barrett Road, the release said. The other three men — identified as Randy Carl Smallwood, 54, Juan R. Fuentes-Contreras, 34, and Paul Matthew Gilleland, 28, — followed Rivera to his house, where tensions escalated.
Smallwood and Rivera got into an argument outside the house, which led to Rivera shooting Smallwood in his arm and leg, the release said. Smallwood got back into the vehicle with Fuentes-Contreras and Gilleland, and the three allegedly drove off. Rivera also drove away from the scene, deputies said.
The two vehicles then got into a crash a short distance from the shooting scene, the release said. The vehicle occupied by Smallwood, Fuentes-Contreras and Gilleland overturned, while Rivera allegedly drove off.
Another motorist found Smallwood on the side of the road and called 911, which began the investigation by the sheriff’s office. Smallwood was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Fuentes-Contreras and Gilleland were arrested that day on counts of possession of a sawed-off shotgun, the release said.
However, deputies obtained more arrest warrants Wednesday for Fuentes-Contreras, Gilleland and Smallwood. All three were charged with armed robbery. Smallwood, who was also charged with possessing a sawed-off shotgun, was arrested that day after being released from the hospital.
Winder police arrested Rivera on Jan. 31, and he remains in the Barrow County Detention Center, the release said.
Credit: Barrow County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Barrow County Sheriff's Office
He will face charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and reckless conduct in Hall County.
The other three suspects remains in the Hall County Jail.
The shooting and robbery plans remain under investigation by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, while the Georgia State Patrol is handling the investigation into the vehicle collision.
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