GBI Charges Tennessee Man in Series of Brunswick Robberies, Assault on Elderly Adult

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — A 46-year-old Tennessee man has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of robberies and a violent assault on an elderly citizen in Brunswick, state and local law enforcement authorities announced Friday, October 9, 2026.

Willie Gray, 46, of Memphis, Tennessee, was taken into custody following a multi-agency search and remains held in the Glynn County Jail. He faces multiple felony charges, including two counts of robbery, aggravated battery, exploitation of an elderly adult, misdemeanor obstruction of law enforcement, and providing a false name.

Multi-Week Robbery Spree and Assault

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was requested by the Brunswick Police Department (BPD) on Monday, September 14, 2026, to lead an investigation into a robbery and physical assault at the Dollar General located at 2915 Norwich Street in Brunswick. During that incident, a male suspect stole cash from the register and physically assaulted an elderly man inside the store.

Five days later, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, a second robbery occurred at the Dollar General located at 2701 J Street. Investigators determined the second robbery was executed in a similar manner by the same suspect, who fled with cash from the register. No injuries were reported in the second incident.

On Thursday, September 24, 2026, a man matching the suspect’s description snatched a purse from a victim outside of the Roses department store at 1919 Glynn Avenue. The victim was uninjured, and the stolen purse was recovered shortly after the incident.

Rooftop Apprehension and Joint Response

Following the purse snatching at Roses, alert bystanders alerted responding Brunswick police officers that the suspect had fled to a nearby vacant commercial property.

BPD officers, supported by the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office and the Glynn County Police Department, established a perimeter and located Gray hiding on the roof of the commercial building. Gray was taken into custody without further incident and booked into the Glynn County Jail on September 24, 2026.

Ongoing Investigation and Tip Line Information

The GBI reports that the investigation remains active and ongoing. State agents and local detectives encourage anyone with additional information regarding Willie Gray or these incidents to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Kingsland at (912) 729-6198 or the Brunswick Police Department at (912) 267-5559.