The teen suspect in a late night shooting Sunday in Cornelia also faces charges in connection with a local pawn shop break-in last month.
Cornelia Police Chief Chad Smith says 17-year old Tavaccea Davis was arrested and charged with burglary in the February 1 break-in at Gene’s Pawn Shop on Old Cleveland Road in Cornelia.
The burglary was captured by the store’s surveillance cameras. It shows two suspects running into the building, one is armed with an axe that was used to break through the door. The suspects go straight for the gun display case. When they see that it’s empty, they immediately turn and exit the shop.
READ: Reward Offered in Pawn Shop Break-In
Store owners say they were notified by mail that an arrest had been made. They say Davis visited the store after the break-in and became a suspect early on.
Davis briefly attended Habersham Central High School last fall after transferring in from Stephens County High. He was arrested on April 17, 2016 in connection with an attempted armed robbery and shooting on Chattahoochee Street near the Cornelia Library and Skate Park.
READ: Arrest Made in Attempted Robbery and Shooting
Davis is charged in that incident with two counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated battery, criminal attempt to commit armed robbery and possession of a firearm or knife during certain crimes.
Family members identified the shooting victim as Austin Wilbanks.
In an emailed response to questions about the shooting Chief Smith says, “This case is still an active investigation. No further information will be released about the case, in particular about the victim or the victim’s condition due (to) the family wanting privacy.”
