UPDATE: Man gets life in prison for shooting ‘Kuntry Stoe’ clerk during robbery in Baldwin County
It happened around 8:40 a.m. at the 'Kuntry Stoe' on 512 Sparta Highway on December 30.
UPDATE (4/23/25): A man who shot a store clerk during an armed robbery in Baldwin County has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, according to a news release from the Ocmulgee District Attorney’s Office.
Gregory Allen Simmons of Atlanta pleaded guilty to armed robbery in Baldwin County Superior Court on Wednesday.
On December 30, 2024, Simmons entered the Kuntry Stoe on Sparta Highway with a 9mm pistol, held the clerk at gunpoint and shot her once in the chest before stealing money, her phone, and a gun, the release says.
Deputies with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Simmons within an hour of the crime. Detective Chris Burrell obtained a full confession from Simmons and recovered the stolen items, according to the release.
“We are happy to report that the victim made a full recovery,” District Attorney T. Wright Barksdale III said. “As your district attorney, I take Mr. Simmons’ actions very seriously. The message was sent loud and clear. Baldwin County is open to business, but closed to criminals like Mr. Simmons.”
The armed robbery happened around 8:40 a.m., according to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. A multi-agency search effort led to Simmons being found hiding inside a nearby home on Sparta Highway after a neighbor reported the house had been broken into.
Gregory Smith (Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office)
ORIGINAL STORY (12/30/24):
MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A man was arrested in connection with a violent armed robbery on Monday morning, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
It happened around 8:40 a.m. at the ‘Kuntry Stoe’ on 512 Sparta Highway on December 30.
According to Major Brad King, a woman was shot during the robbery. On the way to scene, deputies learned that the shooting was part of an armed robbery. Witnesses told deputies that the man ran into the woods.
Local law enforcement agencies conducted a three-hour search for the suspect, which included drones and K-9 units.
The suspect, 34-year-old Gregory Allen Simmons, was found hiding at a home on Sparta Highway. The owner told law enforcement a neighbor noticed the home had been broken into before the arrest.
Investigators are unsure if Simmons is responsible for the initial break-in at the home on Sparta Highway.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating multiple recent thefts in the area. Simmons may face additional charges.
