Auto parts store employee shot and killed in attempted robbery, police say

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County police say an auto parts store employee was shot and killed during an attempted robbery Wednesday night in Buford.

The shooting happened around 7:45 p.m. at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store along Hamilton Mill Road in Buford.

Channel 2’s Audrey Washington was at the scene Wednesday night and said the entire parking lot was roped off by crime scene tape.

Police said the shooter parked their car in the parking lot and watched the employee help a customer in the parking lot.

According to investigators, the shooter then followed the woman inside the store and said to open the cash register.

Police said another employee heard the commotion and walked in from a back room.

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That employee was armed. Police said the shooter noticed the man's weapon and shot him. He died at the scene.

The shooter took off toward Interstate 85.

“It’s really weird. I thought this was a safe area,” said one woman who was shopping in the area.

“We do have that female employee who we hope is a good witness. Next, we will see if they had surveillance cameras and if they were working properly to give us a good description,” said Cpl. Michele Pihera with the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Police do not have a good description of the shooter or the car he got away in.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Gwinnett County police at 770-513-5000.

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