Armed Highjacker Hits Woman In Head With Chair, Sentenced To Life

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – An armed hijacker who hit a woman in the head with a chair and stole her Monte Carlo was sentenced to life in prison with the chance for parol Tuesday in Gwinnett County.

The Honorable Judge George F. Hutchinson, III sentenced Jeffery Merritt Jr. after a jury took 75 minutes to convict Merritt of two counts of aggravated assault, armed robbery and hijacking a motor vehicle.

On the morning of June 22, 2017 Cheryl Hutchinson, not related to Judge Hutchinson, was walking to her car when someone hit her in the back of the head with a chair. Hutchinson looked up and saw Merritt who she recognized from the day before. Merritt demanded Hutchinson’s keys to her car. Hutchinson reported she tried to get back to her feet, but he produced a small handgun, and demanded her purse. When a car drove by distracting Merritt, Hutchinson fled the scene and called 911. The evidence showed Merritt then drove away in Hutchinson’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

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On July 9, 2017 Doraville Police Officer Stansberry pulled over the Monte Carlo that was being driven by Merritt in reference to some stolen gas. Merritt changed the license plate on the car to a license place that was associated with a 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo registered to Jeffery Merritt Jr. Jeffery Merritt Jr. was arrested and the Monte Carlo was impounded.

On July 12, 2017 Merritt went to Brown & Brown Wrecker with his driver’s license and registration associated with the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Hutchinson’s 2011 Monte Carlo was released to Merritt.

During her testimony, Hutchinson expressed how frightened she was the morning of the incident. Hutchinson described being attacked from behind and held at gun point. Ms. Hutchinson became visibly emotional as her 911 call was played for the jurors. She described the injury she received to the head after being struck by the chair.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department