Gwinnett County: Man receives life sentence in home invasion, deadly heist gone wrong

This story has been updated to reflect correction from  Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.  

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA –A would-be armed robber was sentenced to life in prison, plus five years of parole for the part he played in an attempted  drug heist that ended with the death of a fellow robber, the Gwinnett County District Attorney said today, May 19. 

A Gwinnett County jury found Geno Gerard Hall, Jr., 22, guilty of felony murder, home invasion, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the April 2023, shooting death of 25-year-old Leon Van Summers, Jr., another member of a three-man robbing crew.

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

On April 23, 2023, Hall, Summers, and Myles Demonta Coston, and, forced their way into a Stone Mountain mobile home to steal money from Elias Renderos, according to the investigation.  Renderos was shot twice – in the shoulder and the left arm – while reaching for his handgun. He managed to fire a single shot that struck Summers fatally in the chest. Hall and Coston fled the trailer home. Renderos also fled his trailer and called a friend to take him to the hospital.

Summers’ family began looking for him that evening and eventually called police to report him missing. They continued searching into the morning. Renderos contacted police the next day from the hospital to report the home invasion. Investigators arrived at the mobile home to find Summers dead in the living room.

During the trial, Summers’ father testified that when he called his son’s mobile phone the night of the shooting and Hall answered. From the witness stand, Summers’ father told the jury that Hall said, “we tried to hit a lick, it went south, gunshots were fired, and everybody ran.” Hall also told the father that the incident occurred at a mobile home park off Annistown Road, where Summers was found dead.

Prosecutors showed jurors evidence of mobile phone records that placed Coston and Hall near the crime scene. Traffic camera footage showing Coston’s car in the Stone Mountain area prior to the home invasion and leaving to return to Barnesville, GA, was also presented during the trial.

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

Assistant District Attorneys Anthony Volkodav and Jared Lee prosecuted the case with the aid of DA’s Investigators Shayla LaCosta and Germaine Johnson and Victim Advocate Korine Haskins. The Gwinnett County Police Department was integral to closing the case, the DA stated.

Jail booking photos provided via Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.