The Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office has dropped charges against one Lanier High School football player arrested last week in connection with an alleged armed robbery.
The second player charged in the incident, meanwhile, remains in the Gwinnett County jail.
"Upon further investigation, officers determined that, as of now, there is insufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution of Colin Burress so his warrants were dismissed," Chief Assistant District Attorney Dan Mayfield said in an email. "We are proceeding with the charges against Marcko Baity."
Burress, a starting defensive back on Lanier's 2015 region championship team, and Baity, a running back, were both arrested Sept. 5 and charged with armed robbery and marijuana possession. Two others, a teen named Marco Lopez and an unnamed juvenile, were also charged.
All four were accused of robbing a schoolmate with a pellet gun.
It was unclear what, specifically, led authorities to drop the charges against Burress. He spent two days in jail following his arrest.
Buress' mother, LaVerne Cotton, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she's "upset with the process" but relieved her son has been cleared. She said he "just happened to be catching a ride, at the wrong time, the wrong place."
Kent State University, one of the school's that has given Burress a football scholarship offer, has stuck by him, Cotton said.
"Everything this kid has worked so hard for can be just snatched away in an instant," she said. "I know his life couldve been much worse, but for him, it was almost his life. Because that's what football is for him."
Buress did not play last in Lanier's game last week and may miss upcoming games due to "code of conduct" violations, Cotton said. Gwinnett County schools spokeswoman Sloan Roach said in an email Monday that "the school is working with the family to conclude its investigation into this matter."
According to information previously released by Gwinnett County police, the armed robbery victim was walking with a friend when the suspects pulled up and asked if he had any marijuana. The victim said he did, but that it wasn't for sale.
The teen was then forced into the car, which was driven by Baity, and the suspects demanded again that he hand over the drugs, police said. He refused, and the suspects snatched his book bag and punched him in the face. The juvenile then aimed a realistic-looking pellet gun at the victim.
The victim got out of the car but the suspects circled back, throwing his book bag and taking his wallet, cellphone and gold chain.
Burress, Baity, Lopez and the juvenile were later arrested nearby.
While Burress' charges have been dropped, Baity and Lopez were still in the Gwinnett County on Monday afternoon. The juvenile suspect's status was unclear.
Baity, whose mother previously told Channel 2 Action News that the 17-year-old is innocent, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Gwinnett County Magistrate Court on Thursday morning. His attorney, David Cason, declined to comment Monday.
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