According to public records reviewed by Channel 2 Action News, the individual responsible for injuring three people in a shooting at an Atlanta food court on Tuesday had prior convictions throughout the state.
The Georgia Department of Corrections records indicate that Jeremy Malone, aged 34, served multiple sentences in prison. He was incarcerated from 2008 to 2014, then again from February 2017 through September 2017, and finally from September 2019 through January 2020.
Law enforcement officials report that Malone has faced arrest a total of 11 times.
Back in 2007, Malone was arrested and charged with armed robbery in Henry County, marking the beginning of his criminal record. Deputies were the ones who apprehended him during that time.
According to investigators, Malone utilized a toy semi-automatic handgun and a taser to carry out the robbery of a Subway restaurant, resulting in a theft of $253. As part of a plea bargain with prosecutors, Malone has agreed to the terms.
According to the court records, Malone has agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of robbery by intimidation.
The offender was sentenced by the judge to spend a total of 15 years in the justice system, with 10 years of imprisonment and the remainder to be served on probation.
DeKalb County Jail records indicate that Malone faced multiple drug and weapons charges in 2017, resulting in his arrest and subsequent charges by the DeKalb County police.
Back in 2018, the Atlanta police apprehended Malone when he attempted to flee a routine traffic stop. According to the authorities, a search of Malone’s belongings revealed that he had both marijuana and a firearm in his possession.
According to court documents, when questioned about the gun, he claimed that he had found it lying on the street.
After being arrested almost five years ago, Malone has finally decided to plead guilty in front of DeKalb County Superior Court Judge, Gregory Adams.
Upon considering his options, Adams received communication from Meredith McCarrey, the lawyer representing Malone.
According to the speaker, Mr. Malone has already spent around 250 to 260 days in jail. Initially, he served 92 days from October 30, 2018, until January 29, 2019. After that, he was sent to the Department of Corrections for violating his probation. He believes that this probation violation was due to his arrest in DeKalb County. His stay in the DOC lasted from September 24, 2019, until January 31, 2020. Prior to that, he was held in custody in Henry County for approximately five months and one week, from April 18, 2019, until September 24, 2019. He has also been in and out of confinement due to a bench warrant. He unintentionally missed a court appearance, but he did try to resolve the case by sending some documentation. As a result, he has spent an additional 13 days in jail.
According to court records, Malone’s lawyer informed the judge that at the time of his arrest, he was employed at a moving company and had aspirations to pursue physical therapy studies at either Albany State University or Clark Atlanta University.
Malone’s lawyer requested the judge to sentence her client to a year in jail, taking into account the time already served.
Malone was given credit for his time served when Adams agreed to release him from jail. However, before his release, Adams took the opportunity to offer Malone some advice.
Adam acknowledged Mr. Malone and allowed for the possibility of human error by saying, “I know sometimes people do make mistakes.” He then questioned Mr. Malone’s claim to the police that he found the gun. Adam listened to everyone’s statements but didn’t necessarily believe them. He found it remarkable how many people claimed to find guns just lying around in the bushes, when he himself had never come across such a scenario.
Adams shared some valuable advice that he received from his parents during his growing up years. He admitted that he was one of those rare young people who paid heed to their wise words. Their advice was simple yet impactful – if you come across a loaded gun lying on the ground, do not touch it, do not pick it up, and definitely do not try to run away from the police with it. By not picking up the gun, you eliminate the risk of having a loaded gun in your possession. Adams further added that his parents also advised him to be cautious while choosing his friends, and he believes that following this advice can help one stay out of the court system.
An assistant for Adams stated that he was currently in court when Channel 2 Action News attempted to contact him for comment.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Dekalb County District Attorney’s Office provided a response to Channel 2 Action News’ request for comment via email. A spokeswoman delivered the statement.
According to Claire Chaffins, a spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office, Malone confessed to owning a firearm as a convicted felon in DeKalb County Superior Court on March 16, 2023. The incident dated back to October 2018, and the plea was made by Malone himself, as the office did not agree on a plea deal. Although the office recommended a one-year custody sentence, Malone was ultimately sentenced to time served.
Malone’s return to prison was inevitable, and it didn’t take much time for it to happen.
He was indicted in December 2023 by a grand jury in Fulton County on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony.
According to an affidavit, in 2021, Malone was accused of threatening a woman with a knife, resulting in the charges against him.
According to jail records, Malone had been released on bond for this particular case when he was taken into custody for allegedly shooting and causing harm to three individuals in Peachtree Center on Tuesday afternoon.
