By Joe Johnson
Two people were killed in Barrow County early Tuesday in what appeared to have been a case of self-defense during an armed robbery, according to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office.
A third suspected robber was arrested Tuesday night in Athens, Sheriff Jud Smith said.
The male who fatally shot the suspected robbers was being represented by an attorney who was cooperating with investigators, according to the sheriff.
“Preliminarily, this appears to be a case of self-defense,” Smith said.
Deputies reportedly responded at about 1:26 a.m. Tuesday to the Beech Creek Estates subdivision in Winder to investigate a report about suspicious people wearing masks who were standing around a residence on Beech Creek Circle.
When deputies arrived, they were advised by a communications officer that there was a deceased female in a vehicle approximately 100 yards down the road from their location.
Personnel from the sheriff's Criminal Investigations Division arrived, and the scene was turned over to them, and a short time later, the Winder Police Department advised that there was a deceased male located up the road from the initial scene.
It has been determined that both of the deceased individuals are related to the same incident. Both victims are in their late teens to early 20’s and one is a female and one is a male. The male who was arrested at the Country Corners Mobile Home Park in Athens was being held at the Barrow County Detention Center on charges or armed robbery and aggravated assault. Smith said that his name was being withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation,
The identities of the deceased suspects were not being released because all next of kin had yet to be notified, according to the sheriff. Neither lived in Barrow County, he said.
Though the investigation remained ongoing Wednesday morning, Smith said his office determined that there currently was no danger to the public.