Man arrested after allegedly stealing rental car at gunpoint from Atlanta airport

Christopher Gregory

Christopher Gregory

A man accused of stealing a BMW SUV from a rental company at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport last week was arrested in Tift County, authorities said.

Christopher Gregory, 39, entered the parking lot of the Hertz at the airport and took a 2019 Black BMW X3 on Thursday, according to an Atlanta police incident report obtained by AJC.com.

According to surveillance video provided by police, Gregory appears to threaten a Hertz employee into opening a gate to allow him to leave in the vehicle.

Using his right hand, he pointed a silver handgun at the employee before saying, “(Expletive), do you love your life? Then you better open this (expletive) gate,” the report said.

About 11 p.m. the next day, he was arrested by the Tift County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s office spokesman David Haire said the office received a 911 complaint call from a homeowner in Tifton.

The man heard noises on his property, saw Gregory and called 911. Deputies arrived on the scene and discovered the stolen vehicle and an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

According to Haire, Gregory had a warrant in Willacoochee as well as one in the Atlanta area.

He remains in the Tift County Jail on charges of armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, aggravated assault with intent to rob, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, jail records show.

Tifton, the county seat of Tift County, is about 45 miles east of Albany and 185 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

In other news: