Man recovers after robbery, shooting in Locust Grove

ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - He was shot and left for dead along the side of the road last Wednesday morning. Matthew Travis Bell was recovering Tuesday at Grady Memorial Hospital with a bullet still lodged in his back.

Lisa Meeks has spent the last week at her son’s bedside. Matthew celebrated his 21st birthday in a hospital bed with a bullet wound to his stomach. Meeks said around 3 a.m. on Jan. 2, three men approached her son and offered him a ride to a party. He got into their car, which he described as a yellow and black taxicab, but she said her son never made it there.

Meeks said her son quickly realized they were going in the wrong direction and asked to be let out, but that is when she said things turned ugly. They put a gun to his head, stole his wallet, money, and cell phone before opening the door and shooting him after he got out along the side of the road.

It was a passerby on Interstate 75 between Locust Grove and Jackson who spotted Matthew and called 911.

Meeks said she's a single mother. Matthew helped support their family but with no insurance and very little money, they are in a tough spot right now.

With that said, they want justice and have so many questions.