A 17-year-old Athens boy already charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault could face more charges related to a string of shootings over the weekend. One of those shootings left a 16-year-old fighting for his life.
Athens-Clarke County police arrested Edgar Ortiz in the area of Ramble Hills Drive after a brief car and foot chase. They charged him in connection with a Sunday hold-up at the Shell gas station at 175 Tallassee Road, east of the downtown district.
Investigators say Ortiz pointed a firearm at customers and demanded money. He then allegedly fired several rounds inside the gas station.
“As officers were arriving at the Shell, they heard gunshots coming from the Coin Laundry at 123 Tallassee Road. An 18-year-old female had an injury to her face that is believed to have been from broken glass,” says ACCPD Lt. Shaun Barnett.
The shootings on Tallassee Road followed four other shootings on Sunday. Police suspect Ortiz is responsible for all of them.
Successive shootings
The shootings began around 4:30 p.m. on November 14 in the Parkview Homes neighborhood near the UGA campus. Police responded to a report of gunfire. The female victim told officers she heard gunshots and went outside to investigate, “at which point the suspect pointed a firearm at her,” Barnett says. A vehicle was struck by gunfire but no one was injured.
Shortly after that incident, officers received a call about an attempted armed robbery in the nearby area of Newton and Waddell Street. In that incident, they say the suspect brandished a firearm and demanded money from a 21-year-old man who ran away. As he did, the suspect shot at him. The victim was not injured.
Approximately an hour later, around 5:40 p.m., police responded to the area of Lake Drive and Lake Place regarding another shooting. There, they located a 16-year-old boy who was shot. EMS transported him to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
While officers were on scene at the Lake Drive shooting, ACCPD received the call about the armed robbery and shooting at the Shell gas station at Tallassee Road.
Barnett says additional charges are likely to be filed against Ortiz in connection with Sunday’s shooting spree. “At this time, no other suspects are believed to be involved and there is no ongoing threat to public safety related to these incidents.”
Anyone with information related to any of these incidents is asked to contact Sergeant Dickson at (762) 400-7070 or email him at [email protected].
