By Joe Johnson
A 23-year-old Athens man was arrested Saturday afternoon for allegedly robbing a man at gunpoint while the victim was eating in his car at an eastside shopping center, Athens-Clarke County police said.
Bve to the east police precinct shortly after 5 p.m. to report that he had just been robbed while parked in front of Smart Shop in the Triangle Plaza shopping center, police said.
The 59-year-old victim said he was eating hot wings when a man who goes by the name "Lil T" approached with a handgun that had an extended magazine and demanded the victim surrender his money, according to police.
The victim “told Lil T that he would give him $20 but he would have to shoot him to get all his money,” police said.
“Lil T said, ‘I don’t want to shoot you in front of all these people old man,' ” according to police, at which time the victim puled cash from his pocket. Lil T tried to grab all of the money but managed to only snatch a $20 bill before running away, police said.
The victim “said he was scared for his life and ... heard that Lil T just got out of jail or prison,” according to police.
The victim described Lil T as a lighter-complexioned black male who had several face tattoos and wore a dark gray hoodie.
Soon after leaving the police station, the victim called 911 to re[ort seeing Lil T in the vicinity of the armed robbery.
When officers arrived, they saw the suspect either entering or exiting a car, police said,
A handgun with an extended magazine was recovered from the car. Police said they ran a computer check on the gun’s serial number and learned that the weapon had been reported as stolen, police said.
Lil T, who police identified as Toney Martavis Barnett, 23, of Baker Street was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and theft by possession of stolen property.
He was denied bond Sunday by a Magistrate Court judge.