Regional Roundup: Man Shot at Pharmacy, Victim Hits Suspect With Briefcase During Armed Robbery Attempt, and Wanted Burglary in Custody

-- Lawrenceville Patch

There was a shooting at the at 1187 Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville overnight Sunday to Monday. Gwinnett County police report the scene was cleared by 2 a.m. Monday morning and they are actively pursuing leads in the case.

A spokesman with the Gwinnett County police said the victim is a male of unknown of age. He sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of his head. He was conscious when officers arrived and is now listed in critical condition at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville.

More details will follow as they become available. Check Lawrenceville Patch for updates.

-- Midtown Patch

While much of the metro Atlanta area braced for stormy weather last Friday night, a pair of thieves in Midtown were running like the wind according to an email from the Midtown Ponce Security Alliance.

At approximately 8:15 p.m. on March 2, the Atlanta Police Department received a 911-call about an attempted robbery in the 900 block of Myrtle Street. When the call was dispatched over radio, a nearby officer was able to respond within 30 seconds according to the alliance.

Other units also responded and canvassed the area for the suspect. The victim reported that as he exited his vehicle after parking it in the alleyway behind his residence, a black male ran up to him, pointed a hand gun at him and demanded his wallet.

The alliance said that initially the victim ignored the suspect, but then hit the suspect with a briefcase when he repeated his demand. The suspect then took off on foot, running south along the alleyway toward 8th Street.

The victim was not injured and the suspect did not get any of the victim's belongings.

A second robbery minutes later .

-- Dacula Patch

A Dacula man is behind bars after more than seven months at large. Pedro David Escobedo, 33, of Dacula, is charged with burglary and possession of tools for the commission of a crime in addition to a charge of probation violation.

The burglary charges stem from a July 2011 incident in which Escobedo was taken into custody after a burglary at a Sugarloaf Parkway residence.

Escobedo was transported to Gwinnett County Police headquarters and questioned by detectives. GCPD public information officer Cpl. Jake Smith said , but later released when detectives were unable to make contact with the owners of the vacant home and secure warrants against Escobedo in a reasonable amount of time.

Smith did not have details of Escobedo’s capture, but said it appeared he was taken into custody for a probation violation and later served with the outstanding warrants for burglary and possession of tools for the commission of a crime on Feb. 29.