A former Georgia State University football standout was killed in what Atlanta police are describing as a violent armed robbery that unfolded on Tuesday afternoon.
Demazio Skelton, who spent two seasons with the Georgia State Panthers, died in the incident that left three other men wounded by gunfire, according to local outlet 11Alive’s Cody Alcorn.
Inside an Atlanta apartment, Skelton was accompanied by another man when four suspected armed robbers forced their way in, ramming the door open on the residence.
A struggle over a firearm reportedly occurred inside the apartment before a volley of shots was fired.
Among the four robbers who fled, 19-year-old Naim Amadu Smith was captured after presenting himself at Grady Hospital with a gunshot wound. Smith faces charges of murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault.
The two other men who were shot alongside Skelton in the unit are expected to survive, while the other three suspects who allegedly accompanied Smith remain at large.
Authorities indicate the apartment, located at Building 900 within the Flats apartment complex on Maple Street in the Vine City area, was being used as an alleged stash house for illegal drugs.
The Atlanta Police Department reported finding marijuana packaged for sale and mushrooms inside the residence.
Skelton grew up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he played both basketball and football at Myrtle Beach High School. He later spent two seasons playing collegiate football at Georgia Military College before joining Georgia State in 2011.
Georgia State played its inaugural college football game a year prior to Skelton joining the roster. After two seasons, the safety left the program as its all-time leader with five interceptions, while contributing 115 tackles across 22 games.
Police believe the remaining three suspects fled the scene in a gray Mazda.
Skelton was 35 years old.
“I knew Demazio when he played at GSU,” Facebook user Lawrence Wallis wrote in a comment. “Breaks my heart to hear that.”
