Clayton News Daily

Clayton County police officers exchanged gunfire with a 24-year-old Riverdale man Wednesday afternoon, after he allegedly robbed a Jonesboro restaurant, carjacked a woman, and “threw” a toddler from the car.

Freddie Burton, Jr., allegedly robbed the Divine Flavor Jamaican Restaurant, on Flint River Road in Jonesboro, just before 4 p.m.

Police spokesman, Lt. Chris Windley, said in a written statement that Burton was found at a nearby apartment complex and exchanged gunfire with officers. The Riverdale man then allegedly carjacked the woman and her 2-year-old daughter.

Burton allegedly “threw” the youth from the vehicle before fleeing the scene, but it is not clear what happened to her mother.

He drove the car to Riverdale, and jumped out of the vehicle before it ran into a house. He then ran to his sister’s residence on Fairway Court, in Riverdale, and barricaded himself inside, according to Windley.

Negotiations with Burton failed, and he got into another gunfight with police, which ended with officers “neutralizing any further threats,” Windley said.

It is not clear if anyone was injured, or killed, during the gunfight. An investigation is ongoing.

Officer Phong Nguyen said Windley told him he would not answer reporters’ questions about the incident, and they would have to rely on a news release.

— Curt Yeomans