By Joe Johnson
An Athens teenager has been charged with attempted murder for shooting another teen Friday night at a shopping center in Bethlehem.
According to Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, 18-year-old Edwin Emiliano Rodriguez Peña shot the 16-year-old victim multiple times in the parking lot outside of Publix in the Barrow Crossing shopping center on Loganville Highway.
"Both the victim and suspect knew each other from work but we don't know what led up to the incident to cause the suspect to shoot the victim," Smith said.
A witness reported seeing a white vehicle that was parked outside of the Publix supermarket with crime scene tape around it.
According to the sheriff, the victim was transported to the Athens Piedmont Medical Center, and later transferred to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He suffered life threatening injuries, Smith said.
Peña was arrested at the crime scene and was charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and multiple counts of aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
A motive for the shooting has not been established by investigators.
Peña remains at the Barrow County Detention Center without bail being set.
The investigation into the incident continued Monday afternoon and the sheriff’s office asked for anyone with information regarding this case to contact the BCSO’s Criminal Investigations Unit at (770) 307 3080, ext. 3083.