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Alleged 'Gangster Disciples' member caught after reportedly threatening gas station customers, opening fire

Investigators say Hayden Conley Shaw was a member of the Gangster Disciples.
Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
Hayden Conley Shaw of Woodstock faces four counts of aggravated assault and obstruction of an officer. Investigators also determined that Shaw was a member of the “Gangster Disciples” and charged him with the Street Gang Terrorism Act.

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A member of a notorious gang with metro Atlanta ties has been jailed after allegedly threatening gas station patrons and then opening fire in Cherokee County, Tuesday.

Deputies responded to reports of shots fired around 8:30 a.m. at a gas station off of Georgia Highway 92 and Wade Green Road - an Acworth address.

They soon learned from witnesses that a man had made threats to customers and then followed them out of the store before pulling out a gun and opening fire. He then reportedly got in a vehicle that had two other people inside and escaped.

Investigators soon put out an alert for the suspect vehicle, which was spotted at a McDonald's near Highway 92 and Bells Ferry Road about 15 minutes later. 

RELATED: Gang members sentenced in 'the most horrific death' in recent county history

Police detained two people in the car but authorities said a third - later identified as 24-year-old Hayden Conley Shaw - briefly escaped on foot. It was only about 15 minutes after they began searching that deputies found Shaw hiding at a home on Don John Trail. 

He now faces four counts of aggravated assault as well as obstruction of an officer. Because of alleged ties to the Gangster Disciples, Shaw also faces an additional charge - a violation of the Street Gang Terrorism Act.

In previous coverage, 11Alive has illustrated how the gang has become one of the most active in Georgia while also rising as a national gang authorities said are responsible for countless murders, robberies, extortion plots and drug trafficking.

Shaw is being held without bond in the Cherokee County Jail. The other two people were not charged.

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