Lithonia Man Accused of Shooting at Police During Car Chase

Two men have been arrested in connection to firing shots at police officers during a car chase following an armed robbery at a Waffle House in Norcross.

According to Gwinnett County Police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith and jail records, Tavares Douglas Harris, 25, of Lithonia, was arrested and charged with armed robbery, providing a false name to an officer and two counts of aggravated assault. Tamari Adams, 24, of Norcross, was arrested and charged with armed robbery, fleeing or eluding police, two counts of aggravated assault, and multiple traffic violations. They remain in jail without bond.

The incident occurred on Saturday, April 20, around 6:50 a.m. at the Waffle House located at 6079 Goshen Springs Road in the city of Norcross.

Two Gwinnett officers were traveling past the location and noticed a person running from the restaurant. The person matched the description of the robbery perpetrator.

The suspect ran to a waiting black 1994 Honda Accord, which was driven by another man. They fled as the officers approached.

Police pursued the vehicle as it left the restaurant, turning left through a red light onto Jimmy Carter Boulevard. The suspect vehicle led the officers across I-85 and toward Rockbridge Road. 

The suspects fired multiple shots at the officers out of their back window, shattering it. The officers were not hit, according to Smith.

The suspects then threw a handgun out the window, so the officers backed off but continued the pursuit. Shortly after passing through the intersection of Jimmy Carter and Rockbridge, the suspects fired a second volley of shots, striking the patrol car. Again, the officers were not injured.

A second handgun was thrown out of the suspect's window, and they continued to flee down Jimmy Carter until they hit the Home Depot at 4112 Jimmy Carter Blvd.

The men drove behind the store, but they became trapped by the two pursuing officers.

The passenger fled on foot, while the driver stayed. He was arrested at the car at about 6:57 a.m. and was later identified as Adams.

At 7:04 a.m. the passenger was caught by other responding officers. He refused to cooperate and would not provide a name, but he later said his name was John Black, which turned out to be false. The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office identified the passenger as Harris after checking his fingerprints.