Crime & Safety

12 year-old Boy Thwarts Home Invasion in SW Atlanta, Suspects Sought

A boy hid in the attic and called 911, as a violent home invasion occurred in his SW Atlanta home.

According to police reports, on Thursday morning a 12 year-old boy stopped an increasingly violent home invasion by hiding in the attic and calling 911 as it happened.  Because of the young man's call, police arrived on the scene at the 700 block of Catherine St., while the robbery was still in progress.

Three individuals ran from the house as police arrived at the location, 2 of the suspects got away while 1 was captured along with a female "getaway" driver.  In addition, officers found "an AR-15 assault rifle containing 28 rounds and a Beretta 40 caliber hand gun containing 13 rounds."

The initial police statement from Ofc. Kim Jones reads as follows:

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On 10/18/2012 Zone 3 units were dispatched to the 700 block Catherine St. S.W. on a home invasion call.  When officers arrived on scene they observed one male flee the location on foot into the wood line.  A second male fled into a black Pacifica vehicle west on Catherine St.  A third male entered a blue Ford Mustang driven by a female (Minerva Riche 5/31/87). 

As additional units arrived at the location, the Mustang proceeded towards one of the patrol vehicles.  The officer swerved onto the sidewalk to avoid a collision.  That officer proceeded to follow the Mustang and radioed for additional assistance from GSP, DUI and the air unit. This pursuit began on 166 westbound at Metropolitan, ending at 6434 Campbellton-Fairburn Rd. in Fairburn, Georgia. 

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The Mustang proceeded into an open field and the driver (Minerva Riche) stayed in the vehicle, while the passenger (Black male suspect) fled towards the wood line.  The driver was apprehended on scene.  Georgia State Patrol arrived on scene followed by D.U.I. units and Fulton County PD.  Union City PD, Fairburn PD, and Zone 4 officers arrived to offer assistance.  A perimeter was set up near the wood line for the suspect that fled from the vehicle; however a tracking dog could not locate the suspect.

The victims indicated that the suspects (three males) entered their residence and held two females at gunpoint.  The suspects proceeded to restrain one of the females with duct tape and hit her in the head with a pistol.  The juvenile victim proceeded to hide in a crawl space and call the police.  The suspects stole two purses and a cell phone from the victims.  As officers arrived on scene the victim could hear a female’s voice (possibly Minerva) advise the suspects "Police are here, we have to go", and they proceeded to leave the location.

In the rear of the residence where the suspects fled, officers recovered two purses, however $75.00 was still missing.  Also recovered in the path of the fleeing suspects was an AR-15 assault rifle containing 28 rounds and a Beretta 40 caliber hand gun containing 13 rounds. 

Minerva Riche has been charged with Aggravated Assault, Burglary, False Imprisonment, Robbery, Reckless Driving & Fleeing/Attempting to Elude police.  She will be transported to the  Fulton County Jail. 

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Atlanta Police Homicide Detectives at 404-546-4235 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.


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