Man Shot While Defending His Friend From Armed Robbery in East Atlanta Village

A man, who has requested to remain anonymous, attempted to help his friend when she was ambushed by three men with guns in East Atlanta Village. 

According to reports, the woman was attacked while trying to get into her car outside the Flatiron Bar and Restaurant. Her friend ran to her when he heard her screaming for help. He was shot in the leg before he was able to defend her. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and is fortunately now recovering at home.

The three men made off with the woman's purse and cellphone and neither of the friends were able to get a good description of any of the men. Investigators with the Atlanta Police Department are hoping to get some clues from the surveillance footage provided by nearby businesses. 

As an Atlanta Criminal Lawyer, I will explain the law behind armed robbery in Georgia so as to better clarify the offense that three suspects are accused of committing.

Armed Robbery in Georgia

Armed robbery in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law as:

When a person with intent to commit theft, he or she takes property of another from the person or the immediate presence of another by use of an offensive weapon, or any replica, article, or device have the appearance of such weapon. O.C.G.A. §16-8-41.

The criminal offense of armed robbery is considered a serious violent felony in Georgia. If convicted of armed robbery, the penalty includes an automatic minimum of ten years in prison. The prison sentence can range from up to life in prison or even the death penalty.

Practice Note

As an Atlanta Criminal Attorney, there are certain Georgia Criminal Defenses that can be utilized against a charge of armed robbery. Remember, the offense of armed robbery carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison. This cannot be avoided unless the accused person is able to get the charge completely dropped or be charged with robbery in Georgia.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Georgia, contact our offices today.