Robbery suspect charged in incident that closed Roswell Road

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A robbery suspect faces multiple charges after being shot at by police in an incident that shut down a busy Sandy Springs thoroughfare during most of Wednesday's morning commute.

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John Spink, jspink@ajc.com A busy Sandy Springs thoroughfare was shut down during the early stages of Wednesday's morning commute after a police officer shot at a robbery suspect who had allegedly pulled a gun on the officer.

Georgia Department of Corrections Leron Omar Boone

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Sandy Springs police Lt. Steve Rose said the incident began around 6 a.m. when LeRon Omar Boone, 34, of Stone Mountain attempted to rob a man in the gas pump area of the Citgo Food Mart on Roswell Road at Lake Placid Drive, just inside I-285.

"The victim fled north and found two officers who were at a nearby Chevron gas station," Rose said. "When the officers drove to the Citgo, they found the suspect in his truck, which was still parked at the Citgo station."

Rose said that when the officers approached Boone, he "suddenly opened the car door, brandished a gun, and then ran."

One of the officers fired at Boone but missed, Rose said.

Boone ran south on Roswell Road, but was tackled by officers about 200 yards from the Citgo station and arrested.

He faces 11 charges including weapon, drugs and obstruction offenses, according to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office website.

Boone was released from state prison last July after serving a five-year sentence for obstruction of a law enforcement officer in Newton County, according to state Department of Corrections records.

All lanes of Roswell Road in both directions were shut down for most of Wednesday's morning commute. Authorities reopened one lane of Roswell Road in each direction shortly after 8 a.m. and had all lanes open by 9:30 a.m.

--Staff photographer John Spink and Dispatch Editor Angel K. Brooks contributed to this report.