GAINESVILLE POLICE DEPT. (GPD) NEWS RELEASE:
“On Monday…at approximately 10:38 a.m., Gainesville Police officers responded to a report of an armed robbery involving a vehicle theft in the area of Lakeshore Mall off Pearl Nix Parkway.
The victim reported that he arranged to meet two individuals through Facebook Marketplace regarding the sale of his black Mercedes S550. During a test drive, the suspects brandished firearms and demanded the victim’s phone and wallet before fleeing in the stolen vehicle.
Using a vehicle tracking application, Gainesville officers were able to provide real-time updates on the stolen vehicle’s location as it traveled southbound on Interstate 985. The Suwanee Police Department intercepted the vehicle and initiated a pursuit, eventually using a PIT maneuver to bring the chase to an end.
Both suspects were apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. A replica handgun was recovered from the stolen vehicle.
The suspects have been identified as Christopher Denard Wright, 49, of Decatur, and Christopher Jalil Burnett, 37, of Decatur. Both are charged with Armed Robbery and Hijacking a Motor Vehicle. They were transported to the Hall County Jail…”