Alleged bandit, 16, was gunman in stickups at nine Macon businesses before he was shot
A 16-year-old Macon teen was formally charged last week in connection with a string of armed robberies at nearly a dozen local stores and eateries, a spree that police say came to an end in late May when the youth was shot by one of his alleged victims at a Pio Nono Avenue hot wing restaurant.
In charges outlined in a 38-count indictment, the teen, Shavawn Coleman, and three alleged associates face accusations that include kidnapping and aggravated assault in cases said to have involved people being held at gunpoint during the stickups.
Coleman, who is jailed at a midstate youth-detention center, was the only person charged in each of the nine alleged holdups, which began Jan. 28 and ended May 30.
The robberies included stickups at a McDonald’s, a Wendy’s, a Dairy Queen, a Captain D’s and a CVS on Gray Highway, as well as holdups at a Family Dollar store on Emery Highway, a Burger King in downtown, and, on Pio Nono, a Krystal and an American Faves & Mo wing eatery. It was at the wing place that Coleman was shot and wounded by an employee during an alleged late-night heist.
Tuesday’s indictment did not mention what led investigators to suspect Coleman or the three other suspects: Keion Freeman, 18, who had not been arrested as of Monday morning; Vashawn Coleman, 16; and Derrick Berry, 16.
Freeman was indicted in connection with the stickups at Captain D’s, Wendy’s and Dairy Queen.
Vashawn Coleman is charged in the holdups at Krystal and McDonald’s, while Berry has allegedly been linked to the Krystal robbery.
This story was originally published December 17, 2022 at 7:00 AM.