A man accused of holding up a Clayton County McDonald’s Wednesday night was found dead behind the restaurant’s dumpster, police said.

Just before 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, two men entered the McDonald’s in the 5100 block of Riverdale Road with weapons and their faces covered, Clayton police Sgt. Ashanti Marbury said.

“One male demanded the employees and patrons to surrender their cellphones and then removed money from the cash register as the other male brandished a weapon,” she said Thursday in a statement.

Moments after the men exited the restaurant with the valuables, shots rang out, Marbury said.

Officers responded and searched the restaurant.

“While checking the perimeter of the business,” Marbury said in the statement, “a deceased male was located lying face down in a grassy area behind the dumpster.”

Surveillance video from the restaurant helped officers identify the dead man as one of the masked robbers, she said.

Police recovered the mask and an undisclosed amount of cash. He had multiple cellphones on or near him, Marbury said.

Police do not know who shot him and they have not recovered a weapon. However, they do know that no one inside the restaurant pulled the trigger.

The other masked man has not been found, police said. It is unclear if he was injured.

Anyone with information about the robbery or the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward up to $2,000, by calling 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org.

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In other news:

Police say it happened earlier this month.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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