Five Gainesville teens were arrested Wednesday for a series of crimes related to the incident in which a Hall County sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
The teens arrested are Jiovanny Castillo, 17; Antony Macias, 18; Adrian Gonzalez Verduzco, 18; Rodolfo Rodriguez Puentes, 17; and Jorge Rodriguez, 19, all of Gainesville. They are charged with tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension of a criminal. Macias, Verduzco, Puentes and Rodriguez were additionally charged with theft by receiving stolen property.
As the result of an investigation by the GBI, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and the Gainesville Police Department, six burglaries, two stolen vehicles cases and three entering auto cases have been solved, the GBI said in a release. In addition, 25 of 27 firearms and other property from the July 6 burglary of Double Deuce Pawn Shop on Shallowford Road have been recovered. The investigation also recovered an additional firearm and seven stolen vehicles.
Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon, 28, was shot and killed on July 7 after deputies attempted to stop a stolen vehicle thought to be related to a series of burglaries. Dixon was shot once during the shootout. Hector Garcia-Solis, who shot Dixon, was also shot. Brayan Cruz, Eric Velazquez and London Clements were later arrested and all four were charged with felony murder. All four suspects are 17.
Solis and Velazquez will face additional charges related to the burglaries, theft of motor vehicles and entering autos, the GBI said.
Preliminary information from the shooting investigation shows that on July 7 at approximately 11:09 p.m., Dixon attempted to stop a stolen vehicle occupied by four males.
A chase ensued and ended with the subjects fleeing on foot. Dixon and another deputy confronted Solis in the yard of 43 Highland Avenue in Gainesville and gunfire was exchanged. Dixon was shot one time and subsequently died from the wound. Garcia was struck multiple times and is in critical condition at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Hall County District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.
