Would-Be Robber Found Guilty of Murder in Drug Heist Gone Wrong in Gwinnett County

A Gwinnett County jury has convicted a 22-year-old man of felony murder for his role in a botched armed robbery that resulted in the death of one of his fellow perpetrators.

Geno Gerard Hall, Jr., was found guilty of felony murder, home invasion, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the April 2023 shooting death of 25-year-old Leon Van Summers, Jr. Summers was the third individual involved in the attempted drug heist.

“This victim’s death is tragic, and our sympathies are with his family and loved ones,” said District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “Armed robberies are intolerable, and there are risks when people take part in them.”

The incident occurred on April 23, 2023, when Hall, Myles Coston, and Summers forcibly entered a mobile home in Stone Mountain with the intent to steal money from Elias Renderos. During the attempted robbery, Renderos was shot twice – in the shoulder and left arm – as he reached for his own handgun. Renderos managed to fire a single shot, fatally striking Summers in the chest. Following the shooting, Hall and Coston fled the trailer home. Renderos also fled and contacted a friend to take him to the hospital.

Summers’ family initiated a search for him that evening and eventually reported him missing to the police. Their search continued into the following morning. Renderos contacted law enforcement from the hospital the next day to report the home invasion. Investigators who responded to the mobile home discovered Summers deceased in the living room.

During the trial, Summers’ father testified that he called his son’s mobile phone the night of the shooting and Hall answered. From the witness stand, Summers’ father recounted Hall saying, “we tried to hit a lick, it went south, gunshots were fired, and everybody ran.” Hall also informed the father that the incident took place at a mobile home park off Annistown Road, which matched the location where Summers was found.

Prosecutors presented mobile phone records placing Hall near the crime scene as evidence. Traffic camera footage showing Coston’s vehicle in the Stone Mountain area before the home invasion and its subsequent return to Barnesville, GA, was also presented to the jury.

Hall was sentenced to life in prison, in addition to five years of parole. Myles Coston faces similar charges and will be tried at a later date.

Assistant District Attorneys Anthony Volkodav and Jared Lee prosecuted the case, with assistance from DA’s Investigators Shayla LaCosta and Germaine Johnson and Victim Advocate Korine Haskins. The Gwinnett County Police Department played a crucial role in the investigation.