Prosecutors in Hall County Superior Court focused Wednesday on a string of crimes committed in the days prior to the shooting death of Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Blane Dixon - crimes they say were committed by two of the suspects on trial for Dixon's murder.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Wanda Vance, the lead prosecutor in the case, quizzed law enforcement officers and business owners about a series of burglaries that happened the night of July 6, 2019. Two pawn shops and four auto dealerships in the Atlanta Highway/Industrial Boulevard area were reported targets of Hector Garcia-Solis and Edgar Velazquez. Among the items stolen in the break-ins were 27 firearms.
Two women who had their personal vehicles stolen in the days prior to Dixon's shooting also testified Wednesday. One of the stolen vehicles, a Toyota Avalon, was totaled in a crash during a police chase the night Dixon was killed. Authorities said Garcia -Solis, Velazquez and two other suspects implicated in the deputy's murder were occupants of the vehicle.
Presiding Judge Jason Deal told the jury that while they would hear testimony about the criminal history of the defendants, they were to remember the defendants are only on trial for crimes related to Dixon's death.
The trial will resume Thursday, June 24.
This story will be updated.
