Investigators are working to learn how an SUV ended up in the front yard of a Gwinnett County home Thursday morning, its driver shot and clinging to life.
The driver was still alive when homeowner Dennis Marez heard the vehicle crash into a tree outside his Rockbridge Road home. He held up his cellphone light as he looked inside and saw 46-year-old Don Wardlaw covered in blood. The man said a few words, but Marez, who primarily speaks Spanish, could not make them out.
The next minute, he was dead, Marez told reporters outside his home Thursday.
”I don’t know what he needed to (say) to me,” he said.
Wardlaw, of Stone Mountain, was declared dead shortly after police arrived about 4:30 a.m. He had been shot at least once, according to Gwinnett police spokesperson Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle.
“Detectives are currently interviewing any possible witnesses and trying to figure out where the car had come from,” Winderweedle told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from the scene. “We currently don’t know where the shooting occurred.”
The home was not believed to be connected to the shooting, he said.
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
“Detectives would like anyone to come forward who may have heard any gunshots or witnessed this vehicle traveling down the roadway,” Winderweedle said. “Currently, I do not believe we have any calls of any gunshots that came in around this time frame.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 770-513-5300. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website at atlantapolicefoundation.org.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
