Griffin, Georgia

From MyFoxAtlanta.com of August 23, 2007

Convenience Store Owner Fires Back at Armed Robbers

A frightening night for customers and the store owner at a convenience store in Griffin.

The robbery happened at Tony's One Stop just before midnight Wednesday on U.S. 41.

A customer, Chris Albright, says he had taken a short cut through the woods to the store where he says two robbers, wearing orange ski masks, jumped him and told him to get on the ground and put a gun to his head. He says they also told him to stand against a wall.

Spalding County deputies say the two later confronted customers behind the store and robbed them.

Deputies say the robbers shot the store owner in the face; he fired back, wounding at least one of the suspects.

Officers later arrested two 17-year-old suspects when they showed up for treatment at a hospital in Clayton County. They also arrested a 17-year-old girl from Henry County who they believe was driving the getaway car, which they also recovered.

The store owner remains in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

From Atlanta‘s 11Alive.com of August 23, 2007

Wounded Store Owner to be Released

The Spalding County convenience store owner who was shot and wounded in a shootout with some teen robbers late Wednesday night was scheduled for release from Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital Thursday afternoon, according to his father.

"It's a miracle that saved his life," Parish Harvil's father, Ron Harvil, told 11Alive News. Harvil said that as one of the gunmen shot at Parish, Parish instinctively raised his hand in front of his face.

"That deflected the bullet and caused it to tumble" and lose velocity, Harvil said. It embedded in Parish Harvil's skin, in his head, and did not cause a serious wound.

"It took the tip of his middle finger off" on his left hand, Ron said. He said doctors have reattached it.

Parish Harvil was still able to wound one of the robbers in his hand, and that's what led police to arrest the three suspects who are now in custody. Now, Sheriff James Stewart said one of the suspects is cooperating with investigators. Stewart has scheduled an afternoon news conference to update the public on the on-going investigation.

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