BUFORD — The identity of the deceased victim of a fatal shooting at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store located at 2786 Hamilton Mill Road in unincorporated Buford was released today.
Retired Sgt. Felix Cosme, 63, of Dacula was identified as the store employee who was fatally shot when he went to reach for his gun to defend his co-worker during a robbery that occurred around 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8.
Cosme has been hailed as a hero by his former co-workers at the Sheriff’s Office. He started working at the Sheriff’s Office in April 2006. Cosme continued working for the agency until his retirement in November 2015.
The suspect was parked in a nearby car in the O’Reilly’s parking lot watching a female employee assist a customer. When the female headed into the store, the suspect followed her. He demanded that she open the cash register.
It was then that Cosme overheard the commotion and came out of the backroom. As Cosme was trying to pull out his own weapon to defend the store and his co-worker, the suspect opened fire on Cosme, fatally wounding him.
The suspect fled in the same car he had been watching the female employee in and was last seen driving in the direction of the interstate.
If anyone has any information to share in this case, please contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com<https://w
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— Staff Reports
