Dacula Man Charged in Home Invasion Robbery

A Dacula man has been arrested in connection with a May 2 home invasion on Hood Road.

Jovane Christopher McDermott, of 1645 Windsong Park Drive in Dacula, was taken into custody on May 6 and charged with two counts of armed robbery and possession of a weapon during a crime.

According to police, McDermott and three other males forcibly entered the basement of a Hood Road home. The victims, a man and his girlfriend, said all four males were wearing black ski masks. One of the suspects was reportedly armed with a handgun and another was carrying a baseball bat.

The suspect carrying the baseball bat allegedly grabbed the female victim and, during the ensuing struggle, struck the woman in the mouth causing a cut inside her lip.  The suspect with the handgun repeatedly struck the male victim in the head with the weapon causing what the reporting officer described as “serious head injuries.”

The female victim said the suspects did not appear to be looking for anything in particular, but said some of her acquaintances believe she inherited a large sum of money after her father’s recent death. The only item taken was a Bulova watch belonging to the male victim.

Both victims identified one of their attackers as a former Mill Creek High School schoolmate of the male victim. A few hours after the initial report, the male victim contacted police again to advise that one of his friends had received several text messages from other friends bragging about breaking into a house and stealing a watch. Based on the information obtained from his friend, the male victim believed he knew the identity of three of the four suspects. All three suspects named by the victim are former Mill Creek High School students and former members of the football team.

Four days later, McDermott was arrested and charged in connection with the robbery. No other arrests have been made. The case is listed as active.

McDermott remains jailed at the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond.