CONYERS—The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in a Saturday night shooting that left one man critically injured, in what investigators believe was a drug deal that went bad.

The suspect taken into custody is Christopher James Randall, 19, of Conyers.

Randall was charged with aggravated assault and is currently being held in the Rockdale County Jail.

The victim in the shooting has been identified as Darrell Allen Mayo, 28, of Conyers.

Mayo was taken to an Atlanta area hospital and is currently in extremely critical condition.

The shooting happened on Saturday, Oct. 6, just before 9 p.m. at the Bridlewood Apartments, 1150 Sigman Road.

Deputes responded to a person shot in front of Building J at the apartments.

When deputies arrived, they found the victim lying unconscious with two gunshot wounds.

Witnesses at the scene told deputies that they heard the gunshots and saw the suspect running through the woods towards Brandon Glen Apartments, holding what appeared to be a handgun.

After speaking with witnesses, investigators were able to determine that the suspect’s girlfriend lived at an address in Brandon Glen Apartments and went there to try and make contact with the suspect.

After making contact with the suspect’s girlfriend, deputies and investigators found the suspect in the bathroom and he was taken into custody at approximately 9:45 p.m.

The handgun believed to have been used in the shooting was also recovered inside the apartment.

“I would like to commend the responding deputies and investigators for their quick apprehension of the suspect,” said Sheriff Jeff Wigington. “The public also provided a great deal of help by giving investigators timely information that lead to the suspect’s arrest.”
The shooting is still under investigation, but it initially appears to have revolved around a drug deal that was supposed to take place between the suspect and the victim.