Investigators say they now believe a pair of armed robberies that occurred in Reynoldstown the Saturday before Memorial Day are linked to the fatal shooting of an East Atlanta man that same night.
The suspects: Two teenagers who, in a span of 30 minutes, are alleged to have robbed a North Carolina couple at gunpoint, held up a jogger and finally, around 11 p.m., shot Patrick Cotrona as he walked from his home to a bar in the East Atlanta village.
Police on Monday released a sketch of the suspect in the robbery at 765 Kirkwood Ave., which took place at 10:30 p.m. The couple, in town visiting from Winston-Salem, were walking from a friend’s house to a nearby bar when they were stopped by the youthful perpetrator.
After making off with the couple’s money he jumped into a waiting sedan, believed to be a four-door dark gray Dodge, according to the Atlanta police incident report.
Ten minutes later, one of the suspects approached a Reynoldstown resident out for a run near the intersection of Kirkwood and Stovall Street. The teen flashed a gun, taking the jogger’s iPhone before jumping into a waiting vehicle, the report states.
Police released a sketch of that suspect 10 days ago. APD spokesman Sgt. Gregory Lyon said investigators don’t know if the suspect in the two sketches is the same person, but added they are certain whoever it is had at least one accomplice.
“We’re looking for two, maybe three, suspects,” Lyon said.
After the second robbery, the suspects drove to East Atlanta. At 11 p.m., they encountered Cotrona, who was walking down May Avenue to the Midway tavern with his roommate and another friend. The teen gunmen demanded Cotrona hand over his wallet, and he obliged, according to police. Then, without cause or warning, one of the suspects shot him in the abdomen.
Cotrona’s roommate, Marcus Peden, was shot in the leg but was able to ward off the assailants with pepper spray, police said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477), or text to 274637. Informants are not required to give their name or any other identifying information to be eligible for a $25,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspects. Crime Stoppers hopes to raise an additonal $5,000 through an online fundraiser while the Grant Park Neighborhood Association has kicked in an additional $500.
Cotrona’s sister, Kate Krumm, said she hopes to add even more to the reward fun by organizing a benefit in her brother’s memory. She can be reached via email at hisnamewaspatrickcotrona@gmail.com
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