ATLANTA — Police arrested five suspected gang members for terrorizing more than 50 businesses in the metro Atlanta area, robbing them at gunpoint since January.
In one case, one of the suspects jumped through the drive-thru window of the McDonald's on Ponce de Leon Avenue with gun in hand, and robbed the place.
Customers told Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes that they are relieved now that police have everyone they think is involved behind bars. %
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“I'm really happy that they did get these dangerous gangs off the street,” said customer Rosemary Hendrix.
Hendrix is a regular customer at the McDonald's.
She was shocked to see surveillance video of a suspected gang member jumping through a drive-thru window, shoving a gun in the cashier's face.
The incident happened on Feb. 1.
“Well nowadays, they're so brazen,” Hendrix said.
Police arrested the suspect, along with four others, including Taraidan Gass.
Investigators believe they're all part of a Blood gang called The Bounty Hunters and they robbed more than 50 businesses at gunpoint in the Atlanta metro area.
“The gang originates out of Clayton County,” said Sgt. Anthony Gentile with the Atlanta Police Department. “They range in age from late teens into their 30s.”
Police say they targeted restaurants and auto parts stores for the last three months.
“We quickly learned that other surrounding jurisdictions, mostly Clayton County was having the same issue,” Gentile said.
A total of 11 Atlanta businesses were hit, 21 in Clayton and more than 20 in surrounding counties including DeKalb and Henry.
“Four of the five individuals were interviewed by our unit and we were able to get confessions from four of them,” Gentile told Fernandes.
All five are charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
“The gang statute will probably be added later by our DA's office,” Gentile said.
Police said the robbers were so bold, they even robbed an armored truck driver who walked into an auto parts store while it was getting robbed.
Police said they started these robberies in January and the most recent one was just two weeks before the arrests.