Quick-thinking bystander stops 2 attempted carjackings in Marietta
Quick-thinking bystander saves woman from carjacking
A quick-thinking bystander saved a woman from being carjacked in Marietta. Gary Edwards also stopped the suspect from carjacking a couple with a child in their car.
MARIETTA, Ga. - A quick-thinking bystander is being credited with preventing two attempted carjackings Monday night in Marietta, authorities said.
What we know:
Officers responded around 9 p.m. June 2 to reports of an attempted carjacking near the intersection of Delk Road and Franklin Gateway. When police arrived, they found 66-year-old Gary Edwards holding a suspect, 32-year-old Rico Riley of Smyrna, at gunpoint.
According to investigators, surveillance video and witness statements showed Riley pacing near an unoccupied Chevrolet Aveo parked at a gas station on Franklin Gateway. When the vehicle’s female owner exited the store and tried to enter her car, Riley allegedly grabbed her and struggled with her for the keys. The physical altercation lasted about a minute before Edwards, who witnessed the attack from across the street, ran to intervene.
Photo courtesy of Marietta Police Department
After being confronted, Riley ran into the roadway and attempted a second carjacking, this time targeting a Toyota RAV4 stopped at the intersection. The vehicle was occupied by two adults and their 2-year-old child. Once again, Edwards intervened, holding Riley at gunpoint until officers arrived on scene.
Riley was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center and charged with attempted armed robbery, attempted robbery by snatching, cruelty to children in the third degree, and possession of cocaine.
What we don't know:
At this time, it is not known when Riley will appear in court. Additionally, police did not release any information about the victims in the incident.
What they're saying:
Theresa Mackas had just exited a Chevron station on Franklin Gateway when a man approached and asked for a ride before attacking her with a piece of a metal bed frame, she told police.
"I was just, 'Help! Help!' He and I were wrestling and we fell to the concrete," Mackas said. "I was screaming as loud as I could and nobody around the gas station came."
Across the street, Gary and Anna Edwards and their family had just left a Cracker Barrel restaurant when they heard Mackas' screams.
"We heard a lady scream bloody murder. I saw across the road this guy on top of this lady," Gary Edwards said.
Edwards ran to help, knocking the suspect off Mackas. After a brief struggle, the suspect fled toward a nearby intersection and attempted to carjack another vehicle, police said. A couple and a young child were inside the car at the time.
"Anna, my wife, met me at the edge of the road, gave me her gun, I rounded the vehicle he was trying to get into on the passenger side," Edwards said.
Edwards confronted the man with the firearm and ordered him to the ground.
"He's spread eagle, hands down, and was begging and pleading to let him go," he said.
The Edwardses said they acted instinctively and didn’t hesitate to help.
"It’s what we do, help. We were running through people that were just standing around in a parking lot," said Anna Edwards.
"It’s what people should do if somebody's in danger — help," Gary Edwards added.
The other side:
Police praised Edwards for his swift actions but emphasized that intervening in violent situations carries significant risk.
"Choosing to intervene in a violent situation must be a personal decision, weighed carefully against the risks involved," Marietta police said in a statement. "We commend Edwards for his quick actions that protected multiple community members. Anyone finding themselves witnessing a crime in progress is urged to focus on safety, be a good witness, and call 911.
"The outcome in this case was fantastic and we applaud them," said Marietta Police Officer Chuck McPhilamy. "We also caution the public — we’re never going to say be the one to run in, but if you are wired that way, please be safe."