GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County officers shot a suspected thief they say stabbed a Macy’s employee at the Mall of Georgia.
Police confirmed to Channel 2′s Matt Johnson that a suspect ran inside the Macy’s and started smashing counters inside the store with a crowbar and taking the jewelry.
Police said the Macy’s employee, who police have identified as David Walker, 55, tried to stop the thief, but was stabbed. Investigators described the victim’s injuries as “life threatening.”
Gwinnett County police told Johnson the suspect escaped in a pickup truck, but officers spotted the truck and rammed the vehicle. The suspect got out and ran.
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An officer chased after the suspect, firing and hitting the man at least once near the DSW shoe store outside the mall, according to police.
“Our officers were afraid of a danger from the suspect, who was still armed and dangerous at the time, so one of our officers did fire at the suspect, striking him at least once,” Sergeant Jennifer Richter with the Gwinnett County Police Department said.
Police identified the suspect as Jose Reyes-Serrato, 27. Reyes-Serrato is stable.
Several roads in the area were blocked off as police investigate the shooting and stabbing, but have since reopened.
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Channel 2′s Audrey Washington spoke with witnesses who say they heard screams after the stabbing. Meeker says as soon as he heard the screams, he grabbed his mother and ran for the nearest door.
“Everybody in there was panicked. [We] had to get out of there as fast as possible,” Meeker said.
Reyes-Serrato has not yet been released from the hospital.
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