A man who was servicing the coin-operated machines at a Stone Mountain gas station Tuesday suffered life-threatening injuries when he was shot during an armed robbery, according to DeKalb County officials.
The shooting took place around 9:30 a.m. at a Valero in the 5600 block of Redan Road, DeKalb police spokeswoman Michaela Vincent said in an email to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Responding officers found the man, who is in his 50s, suffering from gunshot wounds at the scene and initially reported that he was dead.
He was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery Tuesday afternoon, Vincent said.
Employees at the gas station said the man arrived at the store about two hours before the shooting, Channel 2 Action News reported. In video footage, he can be seen loitering there without buying anything until the victim arrived just after 9 a.m. The footage shows the suspect walking toward the victim’s van, but it did not capture the shooting.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
The investigation remains active, but police believe the man was servicing the machines when he was approached by the suspect. According to Vincent, the suspect shot the victim and then fled in the victim’s car. She did not say if anything else was stolen.
Police first reported the victim was dead at the scene but changed his status to critical after he was taken to the hospital. His identity was not released.
Anyone with information is asked to call DeKalb police’s East Investigations Unit at 770-482-0309 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
Credit: ArLuther Lee
Credit: ArLuther Lee
The location of Tuesday morning’s shooting was the scene of a fatal shootout last year, the AJC previously reported. Two men became involved in an argument inside the gas station, which was then a Citgo location, one night in April 2021.
The dispute escalated into gunfire, and when officers responded they found both men injured at the scene, the AJC reported. At least 15 shell casings were found in the parking lot.
Both men were taken to the hospital and later died, police said.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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