CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — An airport employee says a man armed with a machete tried to attack him and steal his car while he was driving into work at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
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Jontrell Sanders, who has worked at the airport for more than seven years, is also a social media influencer known as Triple Johnny. He says the encounter happened Thursday afternoon near the airport’s cell phone lot.
Sanders says the man approached his vehicle and initially asked for help finding his daughter.
“He said, ‘I need help trying to find my daughter,’” Sanders told Channel 2’s Brittany Kleinpeter.
But when Sanders tried to drive away, he says the encounter turned violent.
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“As I’m trying to cut the car off, he grabbed the machete and tried to hit me with it,” Sanders said.
Sanders described the weapon as resembling a narrow butcher knife.
“It was like one of those skinny butcher knives … but 5 or 6 inches long,” he said.
Sanders says the man scratched his car, rushed toward the vehicle and climbed inside in an attempt to steal it. Sanders was able to keep the key fob, and police arrived moments later.
Cellphone video captured part of the encounter, including officers ordering the man to show his hands.
Sanders says he was frightened but relied on the safety protocols he learned during his years working at the airport.
“At first I was scared for my safety, but I do remember protocols that the airport has taught me over the years as far as encountering somebody and handling the situation well,” Sanders said.
Atlanta police identified the suspect as Jeremy Turner. He was taken into custody, and no significant injuries were reported.
Turner was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony. Authorities also said he had an active warrant out of Fulton County.
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