Athens teen charged with shooting Bethlehem juvenile five times in Winder
An Athens teenager remained incarcerated Tuesday and a Bethlehem teen remained hospitalized with serious gunshot wounds following a shooting Friday night outside a restaurant where they both worked in the Barrow Crossing shopping center in Winder.
The 16-year-old Bethlehem resident was shot five times causing extensive injuries to his body, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said Tuesday.
Kathryn Titus, said the victim, her grandson, Lorenzo Sanchez, has been undergoing surgeries since his hospitalization.
"There are so many shattered bones in his body that his life will be permanently affected by this," she said.
“The suspect is not talking and we have been unable to speak with the victim. He’s unable to speak due to his injuries,” Smith said.
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The victim was transferred from Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, the sheriff said.
The shooting occurred shortly after 11 p.m. at the shopping center off Loganville Highway, which is host to several stores including a Publix and Target.
Titus said her grandson and the suspect worked together at a restaurant and the shooting occurred as the eatery was being locked for the night.
Lorenzo and his stepfather went to the restaurant to close it and soon afterward the shooting occurred, according to Titus.
She said the family had recently moved from Athens to Bethlehem and that her grandson, a former student at Cedar Shoals High School, was attending the Foothills Education Charter High School, due to his work hours.
"He is a well-behaved, respectful young man," she said.
Titus said the family had moved to Bethlehem thinking a smaller town would be safer.
"It's not that we were living in fear, but Athens is turning into another Gwinnett County and Atlanta situation," she said.
The suspect, Edwin Emiliano Rodriguez-Pena, 18, of Athens, is charged with five counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery, one count each of attempted murder and possession of a firearm during a felony.
The suspect remains in the Barrow County Jail without bond.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Barrow County investigators at (770) 307-3080, ext. 3083.
A GoFundMe page was set up to collect money for Lorenzo's medical expenses. Search for Lorezo Sanchez at: https://www.gofundme.com/
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens teen charged with shooting another teen in Barrow County
