On Thursday afternoon in East Point, a routine stop at a Family Dollar turned frightening when a man suddenly leapt through the driver’s-side window of a parked car, shoved the woman behind the wheel out of the seat and sped away. Police later found the stolen vehicle at a nearby school and took a suspect into custody in a neighborhood close to the shopping center. The victim was left badly shaken, according to authorities, but was not seriously hurt.
How police say it unfolded
East Point officers were called around 2:55 p.m. about a reported hijacking at the Family Dollar in the Shops of Greenbriar on Headland Drive. Investigators say the suspect forced his way into the car, then drove off toward Ben Hill Road.
Police say the man discarded a brown purse near the scene while East Point Fire Rescue evaluated the victim. Investigators processed the vehicle and later returned it to its owner. Those details were provided by local authorities and reported by 11Alive.
Arrest and school response
According to police, the man told the driver, “Move, ma’am,” before forcing his way into the vehicle. The car was later located abandoned in the parking lot of Cascade Elementary School, about five miles from the Family Dollar.
East Point officers, assisted by Atlanta police, arrested a suspect in a nearby neighborhood. Atlanta Public Schools told reporters the person taken into custody was not associated with the school, according to 11Alive.
Police follow-up
East Point police say the investigation is still active and they are asking anyone with video or information to contact the department so detectives can follow up. The East Point Police Department lists media contacts and a department email on its official site for tips and press inquiries, and investigators said more details will be released as they are available. East Point Police Department.
Authorities have not yet released the suspect’s name or the formal charges. The case remains under investigation, and officials say they will provide updates when appropriate.
