The FBI is still looking for a man connected to seven armed robberies at dollar stores, and now investigators say his crimes are escalating.
“After taking several weeks off, he has hit four more times and our worst fear has been realized,” FBI Atlanta spokesman Kevin Rowson said. “He fired shots in one of the latest robberies.”
The incident that escalated into a shooting happened at the Family Dollar store on Scenic Highway in Lawrenceville on March 10, Rowson said. The employee who was shot at was not hit, he said.
Authorities on Monday announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the man, who has targeted multiple stores since Jan. 9, the FBI said. The previous incidents happened at stores in Fulton and DeKalb counties, but the more recent robberies have been split between DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett and Clayton counties.
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The suspect is believed to be responsible for the following robberies:
Jan. 9 at 3460 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Scottdale; Jan. 16 at 3201 Tucker Norcross Road, Tucker; Jan. 21 at 5404 Covington Highway, Decatur; Jan. 22 at 3412 Clairmont Road, Brookhaven; Jan. 23 at 1616 Virginia Avenue, Atlanta; Jan. 31 at 6871 Main Street, Lithonia; Feb. 2 at 1125 North Indian Creek Drive, Lithonia; March 1 at 1291 Columbia Drive, Decatur; March 5 at 3824 Powder Springs Road, Powder Springs; March 10 at 249 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville; March 11 at 2335 Highway 138 East, Jonesboro.
The man, armed with a handgun, ordered employees to open the safe and took the money inside, the FBI said. He is described as about 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds. He typically wears a dark-color hooded sweatshirt under a dark-colored puffy jacket, dark pants and tan-color Timberland-style boots, according to investigators.
Anyone with information about the suspect or the robberies is asked to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477).
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