Police: Atlanta veteran shot after giving robber cash

ATLANTA - A disabled veteran continues to recover at the hospital after police said he was robbed and shot several times in northwest Atlanta, Monday.

Gregory Montford had just cashed his VA check and was walking along Hollywood Road when Atlanta Police said he was approached by a man with a gun.

"The perpetrator said give me your money or I will kill you," said Montford's sister, Delores Montford-Davis. 

Police said once Montford gave the armed man his money, the gunman opened fire on him before running away from the scene.

"I am angry at the cowardness for somebody to take something that somebody else has eared and worked hard for,"  said Montford-Davis. 

The Montfort family said they've lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years and are active in the community. Delores said her brother is a deacon at a church and they have never dealt with anything like this before. They said they are outraged that even after their brother gave up the money, the robber still shot him.

Tuesday, while Montford was recovering at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta City Council Member Felicia Moore joined the family, making an appeal to the public for information.

"It is one thing to rob someone, but for them to turn around and needlessly shoot them," said Moore. "This can happen again in the community, so I need the community to speak up and speak out."

Montford’s family said one of the bullets shattered his thigh bone, so he is going to have to have reconstructive surgery in order to walk again.

"That is all he does he just walks, that is his sense of exercise, he doesn’t drive, so he walks and whoever it is has taken that part of livelihood," said Montford-Davis.

Atlanta Police believe the shooter is between 17 and 19 years old, but are looking for more than one person.

"We are asking whoever you are, come to justice, reveal yourself," said Montford-Davis.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Atlanta Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.