$100K ransom demanded in kidnapping

Police say the victim was pistol-whipped and the suspects demanded a ransom for her life.

Four people have been arrested after they allegedly kidnapped a woman in East Point, demanded a $100,000 ransom and led officers on a brief chase through southwest Atlanta, police said.

About midnight, East Point police asked Atlanta police for help locating the woman, identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as Deborah Patrick.

The victim’s sons, Dominic Patrick and Adrian Evans, told police they received text messages demanding a ransom after their mother was taken from the 2000 block of Main Street and allegedly pistol-whipped in the head.

A sergeant soon spotted an SUV he suspected was used in the kidnapping and chased it down Metropolitan Parkway. Police said the chase lasted about a minute before the vehicle crashed into a building in the 600 block of Metropolitan Parkway.

The SUV was occupied by five armed people and the kidnapping victim, police said. The five armed people ran after the crash.

Terenzio McCurty, 23, got out of the vehicle with a handgun and was shot in the leg by and Atlanta police officer, GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said.

McCurty and John Penceil, 50, tried to run but were caught and arrested.

Officers later found suspects Joshua Fowler and Demetrius Sims. Fowler, 25, was found hiding in a dumpster, and Sims, 43, was found hours later in the same area.

Both McCurty and Patrick were treated at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta police Maj. Jeff Glazier said.

The GBI is investigating the shooting.

“When the investigation is completed, it will be turned over to the District Attorney for review,” Miles said.