Investigators with the Barrow County Sheriff's Office have clarified information in a shooting incident that happened earlier this week in the Winder area.
The incident unfolded just before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 2, according to information released Wednesday by the sheriff's office.
At that point, authorities had released minimal details, saying only that two people had been shot and killed and one person had been arrested. Later in the day, information came to light that indicated the shooting incident was the result of self defense.
Today, an updated media release from the sheriff's office revealed the shootings occurred during an armed robbery.
Four suspects - all from Athens - tried rob the victim at a location on Beech Creek Circle in Winder. The victim, who was not named, was also armed and was sitting in a vehicle.
During the robbery attempt, the victim shot and killed two of the suspects, identified as Jose Barrera, 19, and Erika Contreras, 19.
Investigators located the other two suspects - Julio Rivera, 20, and Alphonzo Gonzalez, 19 - and arrested them. Rivera and Gonzalez both face charges of criminal attempt to commit armed robbery and aggravated assault with the intent to rob. Both remained in the Barrow County Sheriff's Office Detention Center at last report.
Investigators did not say what the motive in the armed robbery attempt might have been.
