Violent Altercation at Gwinnett Gas Station Amid Prom Dress Sale

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A planned sale of a prom dress turned violent in Gwinnett County on Feb. 26, resulting in the arrest of three individuals following a confrontation at a RaceTrac gas station.

The incident occurred when an 18-year-old victim met former friend Morgan Flinchum, 20, to sell a prom dress that Flinchum’s mother had originally bought. Surveillance footage captured the moment the victim flipped one of her attackers to the ground in self-defense.

“It appears that all the individuals knew each other or had some familiarization with each other,” Gwinnett County Cpl. Juan Madiedo said.

According to police reports, the victim and Flinchum went to the restroom at the gas station for Flinchum to try on the dress. During this time, an unidentified friend of Flinchum allegedly stole the dress and fled the premises.

The victim chased after the thief, and a male witness was able to retrieve the dress. However, tensions escalated near the gas pumps, leading to a physical confrontation that involved the victim being choked by one of the suspects.

The victim reported to authorities that she struggled to breathe, prompting her to execute a defensive maneuver that flipped the attacker over her shoulder. Video evidence corroborated her account.

“There was a dispute, which ultimately was a civil issue between the dress and money owed to one of the parties,” Madiedo said. “Obviously, in the video, you can see it became physical, and that’s when 911 was called.”

After the initial struggle, another altercation occurred as Flinchum reportedly swung at the victim. A male witness intervened, but chaos ensued as an unidentified individual pulled the victim’s hair.

Responding officers reviewed surveillance footage and documented visible injuries on the victim. The suspects later surrendered to authorities.

On Feb. 27, investigators charged Flinchum, Kaylee George, and Lelia DeJager with theft. Both DeJager and Flinchum also face additional battery charges.

Madiedo emphasized the importance of safety during online transactions, advising residents to use designated e-commerce parking locations provided by Gwinnett County police. “If you’re looking to make a transaction, sell any items or purchase an item online, meet that person at one of our designated e-commerce locations,” he said.