DeKalb County

Police: Father, son fight back after home invasion, suspect killed

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Police said a father and son fought back against a suspected home invader who forced them to drive to a local bank at gunpoint.

It happened just after 2 a.m. Wednesday at the SunTrust Bank on Interstate 20 at Panola Road.

Thirty minutes later, officers say Roy Farrell, 39, told his teenage son to choke the suspect.

That gave Farrell time to grab the robber's gun and shoot him five times.

A witness told Channel 2's Liz Artz that she walked to the ATM off Panola Road and saw two men arguing inside a pickup truck. She said she heard a gunshot and ran to a nearby Burger King to call for help.

That's when she said she heard a second gunshot then, she said the shooter stayed at the bank on scene and waited for police to arrive.

TRENDING STORIES:

Authorities told Channel 2's Matt Johnson that the duo will likely not face chargers after police say they worked together to kill a suspected armed robber.

There is relief tonight that the father and his son lived to tell about this story, but their neighbors say they're still worried for the 16-year-old.

"It was just sad that somebody could go that far and do that and be so hurtful to him and his son," a neighbor said. "His son is probably going to be scarred for life because of this."

Neighbors told Johnson that Farrell's a nice guy, a family man with children and that he's a great father and a great neighbor.

A police report obtained by Johnson didn't mention if the victims knew the gunman, but neighbors agree with police that the shooting appears to be justified.

Authorities have yet to release the name of the suspect.