A Lawrenceville man has been charged with trying to break into an apartment while armed, but police have not been able to find him.
What happened: Just after 1 a.m. on March 22, Gwinnett County police responded to a call at 900 Legacy Park Dr. in Lawrenceville. A resident told officers that someone had tried to kick in his apartment door while holding a gun.
Doorbell camera footage confirmed the attempt and showed the gun clearly. The victim also told police the same man had shown up at his door earlier that same day, also with a gun. The victim said he did not know the man or why he was being targeted.
Who is charged: Police have charged 21-year-old Sonny Stephens of Lawrenceville with Criminal Attempt to Commit Home Invasion and Possession of a Firearm during Commission of a Felony. The first charge applies when someone takes concrete steps toward breaking into an occupied home by force. The second applies when someone has a gun on them while committing or attempting to commit a serious crime.
Where things stand: Stephens has not been found. Police say they have made multiple attempts to locate him, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
How to help: Anyone with information can call Gwinnett County police detectives at 770.513.5300. To stay anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 404.577.8477 or visit stopcrimeATL.com.
Anonymous tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward if their tip leads to an arrest and a grand jury formally approving charges against Stephens.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
