Sandy Springs Police have arrested two men in connection with the March 8 drive-by shooting at the MARTA bus stop at 6060 Roswell Road that left two persons hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Gianluca Gomez and Esli Villalta, both from Bethlehem, GA were arrested late in the day March 10 by Sandy Springs Police detectives and charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and participating in street gang activity.
The two were arrested at the Winder, Ga. police department where they had gone to confirm rumors that they were involved in a shooting. The 2006 Toyota Corolla used in the drive-by shooting was recovered as well.
The 14-year old victim was treated for a wound to his leg and later released from the hospital. The second victim, Ebony Nacole Mitchell, 20, from Sandy Springs, was still at Grady Hospital on March 11, in stable condition, with a gunshot wound to the stomach.
Sandy Springs Police said in a press release, “It appears the shooting was gang related.” Detectives are not releasing details about gang affiliations however indicated that the investigation is ongoing.
No court-date information has been provided at this time. The suspects are currently being held at the Fulton County Jail.
Sandy Springs Police detectives credited the Barrow County Sheriff’s Department, the Winder Police Department, and the Metro-Tech Law-Enforcement Network participants with providing and using information leading to the arrests of the two suspects and information that may lead to additional charges involving at least one other agency.