Update: Armed Robbery Suspect Apprehended In Lithonia

The suspect in an armed robbery attempt Friday morning has been arrested without incident after barricading himself in a Panola Road residence.

DeKalb police spokeswoman Mekka Parrish said around 9:45 a.m., a customer at the Family Dollar store at the corner of Panola and Young roads called 911 about the suspect coming into the store wearing a ski mask.

Parrish said the suspect was attempting to flee the Family Dollar when police came on the scene. The suspect fired at a DeKalb officer, who returned fire, she said. The officer was not injured. It is unknown at this time if the suspect was injured.

For a while, three DeKalb County schools near the area were on lockdown.

DeKalb officer observed a person kicking in the rear door of a home in the 1800 block of Panola Road. A SWAT team was brought in to make contact with the suspect. The suspect was apprehended in the early afternoon.

Ebone Allen told Patch her mother is an employee at the store and was present when the robbery occurred.

The store was also robbed yesterday (Dec.6) Family Dollar employee Katrina O'Neal told Patch. She was working at the store when the suspect, whom she said was not aggressive, rang the bell on the front counter. When O'Neal arrived, he demanded money. He had to buy something - a Reese's - in order for her to open the register. She said he made off with about $300.