Investigators with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office are currently searching for two men who reportedly robbed a third man at gunpoint after he gave one of them a ride home.

Tuesday afternoon, as the victim was leaving the Ingles store on Salem Road, he was waved over by a man in the parking lot, said Newton County Sheriff’s office Public Information Officer Cortney Morrison. the victim told investigators that he recognized the other man from high school, but could not remember his name.

The victim approached the man, who reportedly told him he would give him $10 FOR A ride to Salem Terrace Apartments, roughly 2 miles away. The victim agreed, and when the two reached the apartment complex, the victim drove around to the back Of the complex, to the apartment his passenger pointed out. The passenger reportedly went into the apartment to get money to pay for the ride, while the victim waited in his car, according to Morrison. Several minutes later, when the man came out of the apartment, he had another man with him. The man who had initially asked the victim for a ride approached the driver’s side door and pointed a small handgun, covered with clothing, at the victim and told him not to move, Morrison said. While he held the victim at gunpoint, the other man reportedly got into the vehicle and stole more than $500 from the victim. The two then ran off toward the wooded area behind the apartments.

The two men are described as black males, one wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans, the other shirtless, with light skin and tattoos on his body and face.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the NCSO at 678-625-1400 or online at www.newtonsheriffga.org. All tips can be given anonymously.

Accidental shooting

A 21-year-old man visiting family members at Grosslake Apartments Friday was arrested Thursday after investigators determined he had allegedly shot a round from a .22 caliber rifle into a neighbor’s apartment.

Albert Wentworth Verwayne Jr. was spending time at his relatives’ apartment on the same day a woman who lived across from them called 911 to report that she had found what appeared to be a bullet hole in her window when she came home. When investigators arrived, they found the hole and a bullet in a bedroom of the apartment.

Investigators were able to determine through a scene investigation that the bullet seemed to come from the apartment of Verwayne’s relatives. They attempted to contact someone there, but were unable to on Sept. 6 when the incident occurred. Later, they were able to speak with Verwayne, who reportedly admitted to "playing" with the rifle — which he didn’t know was loaded. When he pulled the trigger, a bullet went through his relatives' apartment and into the victim's apartment. He was charged with criminal damage to property in the second degree and reckless conduct.

"We always stress safety first when dealing with any kind of weapon," said Morrison. "Always treat a weapon as if it were loaded. In this situation the only thing damaged was property — this time."