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Suspected shooter caught after crime spree ends in Villa Rica

ATLANTA — Two Georgia police departments have filed charges against an Orlando, Fla., man accused of at least two robberies and a shooting during a weekend crime spree.

Nehemiah Hagwood is being held in the Carroll County Jail facing 15 charges in Villa Rica and another four in Atlanta.

Witnesses said he shot one man in a parking lot outside the CNN Center during his first known robbery Sunday morning.
"He robbed me and shot me, went to his car. I was begging him not to shoot me anymore," said the victim from his Grady Memorial Hospital bed where he's recovering from a gunshot wound to his hip.

The man said he crawled into the middle of Centennial Olympic Park Drive for help. Police arrived and chased the attacker, but lost the mini-van he was in on the westside of the city.

"I'm baffled about the whole thing. Why this guy would unload three rounds instead of just approaching me, you know, 'Give me everything you have,'" the man said.

Two hours later, Villa Rica police received a report of a robbery at a QT gas station on Highway 61.

Officers were able to confront Nehemiah Hagwood as he stood next to his van, smoking a cigar and drinking a beverage.

"They asked him 'You know we got a report you have a gun. We need you to step away.' And he said 'I got a gun, it's on the seat,'" said Capt. Keith Shaddix of the Villa Rica Police Department.

Officers said Hagwood then took off again, flying through rural and city streets for five minutes.

Police dash cam video shows Hagwood's van getting airborne as he sped over railroad tracks and cutting through a lawn as he reached a dead-end. A short time later he crashed the van in front of an elementary school.

Police said they found several ID's inside the van, including the Atlanta shooting victim's. They also recovered a handgun believed to have been used in both crimes.

Although he's still in pain, the victim said he's relieved Hagwood was caught.

"My leg is shattered. I've got to go through walking all again. I'm glad they caught him in Villa Rica. I'm just wondering what else they are going to find on this guy," he said.