COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — A former NBA player is accused in a violent home invasion that left a teenager injured in Coweta County.
James Edward "J.J." Hickson Jr. was arrested Friday. During the home invasion, sheriff's officials told Channel 2's Matt Johnson that a 17-year-old inside the home was beat up and suffered injuries.
He's accused of stealing $100,000.
Hickson was a standout basketball player at Joseph Wheeler High School in Marietta and attended North Carolina State University before being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 19th pick in the 2008 NBA draft.
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Mary Taylor is still shaken up by the violent home invasion robbery that happened across the street from her in Coweta County.
She told Johnson she was the first person the 17-year-old victim saw when he came out of the house with a broken nose.
"When he told me what happened, I was so nervous I couldn't even punch in the code in my phone," she said.
Taylor was able to dial 911 to get sheriff's deputies to respond to the house Friday on Rowe Road in unincorporated Senoia.
It was around 10:30 a.m. when deputies said Hickson used a knife to attack the teenager in the home.
They said Hickson came in through a side door to steal $100,000 in cash before authorities arrested him the same day.
"I've always felt so safe here, you know, but now I don't know. I'm peeping out, you know?" Taylor said.
Authorities haven't said how they believe Hickson knew the people in the home 60 miles away from Hickson's house in Smyrna.
Neighbors said the victim lives with his mother.
Hickson remains in the Coweta County jail without bond -- to the relief of neighbors.
"We all couldn't believe what was happening around here because this is such a safe quiet neighborhood," Taylor said.
Deputies believe there were two accomplices but only Hickson faces charges.
Neighbors said they first spotted the getaway car up to five hours before the robbery happened. The house that was robbed is all the way at the end of the street near the stop sign.
"They jumped in the car and took off real fast," a witness said.
Hickson faces three felony charges - home invasion, aggravated assault and robbery with a knife.
Ex-NBA player JJ Hickson broke the nose of a 17 year old during a home invasion in Coweta County Friday, authorities say. Hickson remains in jail without bond. pic.twitter.com/VW4GYOEJmN
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) June 18, 2018
Authorities say ex-NBA player JJ Hickson stole $100k cash from the home during the home invasion robbery. He was arrested shortly after the incident. Live reports starting @ 4pm.
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) June 18, 2018
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