Local

Robbery crew terrorized Hispanic residents in Brookhaven for 42 days, police say

BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — Brookhaven police say a robbery crew terrorized the city’s Hispanic residents for 42 days.

Three people are charged with several crimes.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne talked to two victims, including one person who was shot.

Brookhaven police Sgt. Jake Kissel said the department has nailed down charges on eight robberies, all involving guns and three involving pistol-whippings.

Victim Jason Diaz talked about the terrifying moments.

“The bullet went from my side to the other side of my body. That was a miracle for the fact that the doctors told me it almost hit my spine,” Diaz said. “I gotta thank God above that I’m still here.”

“The time frame was 42 days,” Kissel said.

Diaz said on New Year’s Eve, his best friend’s mom gave them a mission to go buy a 2-liter bottle of Coke while she cooked.

[Here’s a GoFundMe if you’d like to donate to Diaz]

But his mission, which landed him in Grady Hospital for 19 days, became protecting himself and the mother of his child.

Instincts he honed as a U.S. Marine kicked in after a man with a gun tried to rob them.

“Protect what you love, protect yourself,” Diaz said. “I tried to speak with him.”

Diaz said he does music as “Peacemaker,” but he charged the robber, fought and got pistol-whipped.

But when the gunman turned to his friend, Diaz jumped on his back and the disoriented robber shot him.

“I said my last prayers,” Diaz said.

“This was one crew that was terrorizing the Buford Highway Corridor,” Kissel said.

Kissel said that in December and January, one robbery crew pulled eight robberies in Brookhaven, all targeting Hispanic victims.

The Brookhaven Police Department devoted heavy resources and has now gotten charges against brothers Edrick Agee and Avonte Fortson and alleged lookout Elizabeth Edmonds in all eight.

“The big break in this case was Edmonds and Fortson using one of our victim’s stolen credit cards at a Walmart,” Kissel said.

A woman who did not want to be identified told Channel 2 Action News she looked up to see a man with a gun in her family’s apartment.

“One guy put the gun in my stomach,” she said.

She soon saw a second gunman and was frightened for her three children and her mother.

As soon as the robbers left, the family called 911.

“I need justice,” she said.

“If this robbing crew counted on Hispanic victims not to come forward, they were wrong?” Winne asked.

“They were wrong, and they were definitely wrong when it comes to Brookhaven,” Kissel said.

“They just didn’t know who they were getting involved with at this time,” Diaz said.

Kissel said there may be other victims who haven’t come forward and if so, they should call 911.

Winne worked hard to find names for the lawyers for the three suspects and placed a call to each.

He reached lawyer Gerald Griggs, who says he was just appointed to Agee’s case.

Griggs is still investigating, but Agee will enter a not guilty plea.