Teens Identified in Store Shooting

The Spalding County convenience store owner who was shot and wounded in a shootout with some teen robbers late Wednesday night was scheduled for release from Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital Thursday afternoon, according to his father.

Meanwhile, the three 17-year-old suspects were identified at a Thursday afternoon news conference as: Andre Demond Burton, Larry Redding, and Janay Charise Wilson. Burton suffered a hand injury when the store owner returned fire.

"It's a miracle that saved his life," Parish Harvil's father, Ron Harvil, told 11Alive News. Harvil said that as one of the gunmen shot at Harvil, he instinctively raised his hand in front of his face.

"That deflected the bullet and caused it to tumble" and lose velocity, Harvil said. It embedded in Parish Harvil's skin, in his head, and did not cause a serious wound.

"It took the tip of his middle finger off" on his left hand, Ron said. He said doctors have reattached it.

Parish Harvil was still able to wound one of the robbers in his hand, and that's what led police to arrest the three suspects who are now in custody. Now, Sheriff James Stewart said one of the suspects is cooperating with investigators.

Witnesses said two teens walked into "Tony's One-Stop" just south of the Henry County line about 11 p.m. Wednesday and began robbing Harvil and four or five customers. At some point, one of the teens shot Harvil in the head, but he managed to return fire with a 9mm pistol.

The pair ran across the highway to a waiting getaway car and driver, but all three were caught a short time later at Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale after seeking treatment for their wounded partner. Spalding County authorities had already warned area hospitals to be on the lookout for some wounded teens. "We have talked to them," said Stewart, "and one of them is cooperating with us. We have recovered some of the stuff that was taken, some of the billfolds of individuals that they robbed." Stewart said Burton, the wounded teen, underwent hand surgery at Southern Regional while under guard. The other two suspects were taken to the Spalding County jail.

According to some of his employees, Harvil bought his BP convenience store on Highway 19/41 in Spalding County about 18 months ago. Harvil is married to a school teacher and has two young daughters, about 7 and 11 years old. "He's a great guy," said employee Sam Schley, "You can't ask a better person to work for."