Armed Robber Targets Newton County Shops

Police are searching for a gunman with a sawed off shotgun. They said he's responsible for several hold-ups at businesses in Rockdale and Newton counties and they think he has an accomplice.

Police said the gunman was caught on surveillance video robbing a Covington hotel. Now, they're hoping someone will recognize him before he strikes again.

Covington Police Det. Daniel Seals said, "It's got a short barrel may be cut off may be not."

Covington police said the shot gun with a pistol grip wood stock is the best clue they have on the man who covers his face with sweatpants or a hoody.

Investigators said at about 6 a.m. on the July 4, a man entered the Holiday Inn Express in Covington and robbed the desk clerk. General Manager Andrea Stone said it was her son who'll never forget the sound of the shotgun.

"(He) cocked it right in his face and that's the thing that he keeps hearing -- the click," she said.

Police said two days earlier, the same man may have robbed Dosters groceries in Newton County at about 10 a.m. and then the next night tried to rob a man in the parking lot of a Conyers tave.

All three victims describe a weapon almost exactly like the one used by the culprit.

Police suspect a second man driving a dark colored Nissan Altima as a get away car was also involved.

"The general manager said she remembers a similar car right here a day before the place was robbed," said Seals.

"I drove up to the person and I said, 'What are you doing?' and he said, 'Waiting for somebody.' So I didn't think anything more about it," said Stone.

She said now she's almost certain it was the man with the shotgun casing the place. Stone and police want him caught before somebody gets hurt or killed.

"It can do big damage. I'm conceed for all of us that are in this kind of business," said Stone.

Covington police say it appears, by the way the gunman was holding the sawed off shotgun, that he is not familiar with the weapon -- which only adds to the danger.