ATLANTA -- A dramatic raid captured on body camera shows a gas station in Atlanta’s Lakewood neighborhood getting shut down. But it’s the effort behind the scenes to make it happen that’s getting the most attention.
It took months-worth of people who live in Lakewood and the southeastern part of the city really committing themselves to get the place shut down.
The raid itself was precise and quick. People working at the store were in handcuffs in seconds. Neighbors said crime at the gas station was out of control with three shootings in just three weeks.
They’ve nicknamed the location the “Shoot ‘em Chevron.”
People who lived just down the street were scared to go there.
“I know, personally, I didn’t go,” one resident, who didn’t give her name, said. “I used to go get gas and I wouldn’t go.”
So, they worked with Atlanta police to figure out a plan.
They started a neighborhood watch to report every single suspicious activity.
“Citizens and the community working together. You have neighborhood watch, you have people looking out for each other and you have less crime going on,” the neighbor said. “So, that was the main factor, the citizens and the police.”
Then, they started reporting expired food on the shelves and got the Department of Agriculture involved. The Georgia Lottery started monitoring their slot machines.
“That was the icing on the cake,” the neighbor said.
Police got enough violations to go in and shut them down. They found drugs on the people working there and hidden in the chips and the coffee machine. People in the neighborhood said they’re thankful the police responded so strongly to their concerns.
“That’s what closed it down,” the neighbor said.
11Alive couldn’t get in touch with the people who own the station, but it’s been closed for three weeks now with no sign of reopening.
