A good Samaritan is recovering in a local hospital after being shot five times while trying to stop a gas station robbery early Wednesday in southwest Atlanta.
The man’s father, who asked Channel 2 Action News not to use his name, said his son went by “Rambo” and is a real-life hero.
“Someone tried to take my son away from me,” the father said.
The good Samaritan was getting gas and purchasing something at a Texaco station in the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive about 1:30 a.m. when he saw a white sedan pull up with three men inside, Atlanta police Officer Stephanie Brown said.
One of them got out of the car, went inside to buy something and returned to the car, a gas station clerk told police.
“That same suspect then went over to a citizen hanging out in front of the gas station and he appeared to be trying to rob him,” Brown said.
The man known to his family as “Rambo” intervened when he saw what was going on, and “the suspect opened fire” on him, Brown said.
He was injured in the torso, buttocks and hip, according to Channel 2.
At that point, the man returned fire, leading the robber to get back inside the car and drive away, according to police.
The hero’s father told Channel 2 his son has five daughters ages 5 to 11.
“All these other young fellas been getting life taken and God spared him,” the father said.
An AK-47 and handgun were recovered at the scene.
Officers are searching for the three men in the white car. It is unclear if they were injured during the shootout, police said.
The robbery victim was not injured. He initially left the scene but returned later, according to authorities.
“Rambo” remains at Grady Memorial Hospital, where he is stable.
“That man was actually being a good citizen trying to help the other citizen that was being robbed,” Capt. Brian Schiffbauer said.
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