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Murder suspect arrested in Union City

By BEN NELMS
bnelms@TheCitizenNews.com

Quick work Wednesday morning by Union City police and information supplied by citizens resulted in the apprehension of 36-year-old Harry Andrea Jones on multiple charges, including the murder of a convenience store clerk during an apparent armed robbery. Two other arrests unrelated to the armed robbery and murder were also made.

Jones, of Union City, was charged with armed robbery, malice murder, possession of suspected cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to Union City Police Sgt. George Louth.

The events that led to the murder of 31 year-old store clerk Sham Suddin began at approximately 6:40 a.m. at the Nik Nak convenience store, located at 5000 Roosevelt Highway at the intersection of Roosevelt and High Point Road, Louth said. Suddin was found by a customer entering the business and nearly run over as the perpetrator was fleeing the store, he said. Another witness at a nearby intersection, said Louth, saw the man running west on High Point Road.

Suddin was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital and died later Wednesday morning during surgery related to a single gunshot wound to the chest, said Louth. Suddin, who had recently moved from the Houston area, had been employed at the store for approximately two weeks, said Louth.

Investigators began searching the area, including Premier Club Apartments at 5100 High Point Road, approximately one-quarter mile from the convenience store. During the search officers found some of the items taken in the robbery, including the wallet belonging to Suddin. Officers also acted on information supplied by numerous residents after local television stations broadcast law enforcement’s request for public assistance regarding suspicious activity in the area, said Louth. Approximately 70 percent of those calls, he said, were useful.

“One of the calls led us to Apt. 34 based upon the behavior of the subject who was a resident at that apartment who had already been seen in the parking lot,” said Louth, adding that he could not currently go into the details of that aspect of the investigation. “Investigators conducted a knock-and-talk interview with individuals in the apartment. During the conversation officers saw what appeared to be suspected crack cocaine and suspected marijuana in plain view inside the residence. Officers secured the apartment and obtained and executed a search warrant.”

Louth said a search of the premises led to the discovery of drug paraphernalia in the apartment and a handgun in the bedroom.

“Items were found, including some other physical evidence that we cannot go into at this time, but that directly, almost unequivocally, link him to the robbery,” Louth said. “As a result of that we secured arrests warrants for Mr. Jones for armed robbery, murder, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.”

Louth said Jones had two outstanding warrants for burglary in Fulton County.

Two others, including Jones’ mother, were arrested at the scene on charges unrelated to the armed robbery and homicide, according to Louth.

Louth thanked local electronic media, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and local residents for their assistance. Suddin’s family are believed to be on route from the Houston area.