ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A southwest Atlanta woman said police officers were justified in shooting two of the men who terrorized her and four of her female relatives early Friday.
Crystal McKnight told CBS Atlanta News that she and the other young women were asleep in the home they rent on Richland Road at about 1:30 a.m. when she awoke to the sounds of men trying to break into the home.
"I heard a hard knock at the back door and jumped up out of my bed," she said.
She and two of the other residents hid in a closet.
"I grabbed a cell phone, called the police," McKnight said. "(We) hid in the closet, stayed in the closet on the phone with the police."
Seconds later, the men had made their way inside.
"The dudes came in and told us we had three seconds to open the door or they were going to shoot in the closet," McKnight said. "So at this time, we came outside with our hands up. They made us take off our clothes and lay on the side of the bed."
"They kept on asking for money," said Aaliyah Fowler, 17. "They kept on saying, 'Where's the money at?'"
"They all had guns to our heads, machete knives and told us they were going to chop our heads off and that they were going to rape all of us," said McKnight.
Police officers arrived just in time. As the robbers ran off, they exchanged gunfire with the officers.
One of the suspects died from his bullet wounds. The Fulton County Medical Examiner identified him as DeWayne North, 39, of Riverdale.
Another suspect, who Atlanta police identified as Derrick Hayes, 32, was shot in the arm and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital.
"He took my phone," said McKnight, referring to the wounded man. "They got it from him at Grady (Memorial Hospital). It was in his pocket when they got there. It was full of blood."
Hayes was released from the hospital and charged with armed robbery and false imprisonment.
At least two suspects got away, police said.
Check back with www.CBSAtlanta.com for updates on this developing story.
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Crystal McKnight
Derrick Hayes
