Grandmother injured in Lilburn home invasion

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By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A police K-9 captured an 18-year-old after he broke into a Lilburn home and assaulted an elderly woman in front of her grandchild, police said.

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Rodericus Jackson, 18, is charged with forcing his way into a Lilburn home with a handgun. A police dog captured him Tuesday morning in a Lilburn backyard.

Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department Rodericus Jackson, 18, is charged with forcing his way into a Lilburn home with a handgun. A police dog captured him Tuesday morning in a Lilburn backyard.

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Rodericus Jackson is charged with multiple charges, including aggravated assault, false imprisonment and cruelty to children.

Jackson knocked on a door of a home in the 4900 block of Jackson’s Mill Drive around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Lilburn Police Sgt. Stephen Weed said. He pointed a handgun and forced his way inside, Weed said.

He led the homeowner, an elderly woman, into the kitchen and forced her to lie on the floor, Weed said.

The suspect fled when he saw the young grandchild walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, Weed said.

Moments later, police received a 911 call from a neighbor who heard the grandmother scream and other neighbors who saw the suspect jumping fences.

Officers from Lilburn, Norcross and the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office set up a perimeter and searched the area. Gwinnett Sheriff's K-9 Johnny tracked Jackson to a nearby yard, where he was apprehended, police said.

Paramedics treated Jackson for minor injuries after he was bitten by the dog during the arrest. He was then booked into the Gwinnett County jail.

The victim sustained minor injuries after being pushed to the floor. She was treated at a local hospital and is in good condition, police said.

The child was not injured.

Police are still investigating the home invasion to determine a motive. The victim told police she did not know the suspect.

"It appears random at this time," Weed said.

Police notified an area school while they were searching for the suspect. However, the arrest was made shortly later before the school could implement a lockdown, Weed said.