BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — The man accused of shooting at a Brookhaven police officer has surrendered.
Brookhaven police tell Channel 2 Action News that Brandon Barabino is accused of shooting at a Brookhaven police officer after they say he robbed and shot two other people Tuesday evening.
Sgt. Lonne Napier said he was parked at the Village of Druid Hills shopping plaza at North Druid Hills and North Hills roads when a man ran up to his patrol car shouting that Newk’s restaurant had been robbed and there had been a shooting. The man said the robber ran around the back of the plaza.%
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Napier drove to the area and saw a parked white vehicle. A man jumped out of the vehicle and told Napier that he had also been shot. The victim told Napier that the shooter had run into a nearby apartment complex.
The officer drove to the apartment complex and saw a black Mustang backing out of a parking space and driving toward the patrol car. The driver of the vehicle came to a stop and lowered his window, and police said he told the officer, “He went that way,” and motioned behind him.
Napier said that as he was questioning that driver, Barabino shot at him. He said the bullet was just inches from his head.
“He is considered to be armed and very, very dangerous, so we urge the public and law enforcement officers, especially, to be in high alert,” said Officer Carlos Nino, with the Brookhaven Police Department.
Barabino appeared in a Channel 2 Action News report in 2013 during a standoff with police.
At the time, SWAT negotiators persuaded him to release his girlfriend, and he eventually gave up.
Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne obtained documents from the DeKalb Superior Court Clerk's Office that contain more details.
An indictment from March 2009 indicates six counts against Barabino: two counts each of armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.
Records indicate Barabino pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Then, in September 2010, a defense motion stated that “the length of delay in trying his case is unreasonable.”
In December 2011, the “court (found) that the defendant was denied a speedy trial" and the “motion to dismiss is granted."
A hearing transcript from the clerk's office fleshes out the case even more, indicating Barabino allegedly "put the gun to (the victim's) head and ... pulled the trigger but it did not fire."
The transcript also reveals Barabino has been down the robbery road before, describing "prior robbery conviction, 1999, out of California."
“Is this a case that raises more questions about how these suspects keep turning up on the street?” Winne asked Nino.
“It’s something we definitely have to reconsider what’s going on,” Nino said.
Winne spoke Thursday with Rodney Williams, who confirmed he represented Barabino in the 2011 dismissal.
He said he does not currently represent him and wants to refresh his recollection with his file before commenting in detail.
Meanwhile, Barabino is said to still be on the run. Police advise the public to use extreme caution if they see him.
Anyone with information on Barabino’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Brookhaven Police Department at 404-637-0600.