Four people, all teenagers from Snellville, have been charged in connection with two violent armed robberies in Gwinnett County, police said Tuesday. Both crimes occurred Friday afternoon in the 3300 block of Stone Mountain Highway in unincorporated Snellville.
The first incident happened at the Cash America Pawn at 3355 Stone Mountain Highway. The victim told police four black men robbed and assaulted him in the parking lot. One of the men pointed a handgun at his face and demanded money, and another punched the victim in the face, Gwinnett police Cpl. Michele Pihera said. The suspects took the victim’s cellphone, keys and eyeglasses. The phone and eyeglasses later were found nearby.
A customer at a nearby business saw the assault, followed the suspects’ car, and called 911, Pihera said. Officers spotted the vehicle, conducted a felony traffic stop at Parkwood Road and Centerville Highway and detained 17-year-old Timothy James McClendon.
Shortly after, another robbery was reported at the Cubesmart Self Storage at 3313 Stone Mountain Highway. Pihera said the victim had a large laceration on his head, and blood on his face and clothes as he sat in the business.
The victim told police he was confronted by two black men as he was putting some property from his storage unit into his vehicle. The men pointed a handgun at the victim, and later punched and kicked him in the head and upper body, Pihera said. Among the items stolen by the suspects were four Samurai swords valued at several hundred dollars, police said.
Officers and K9 dogs searched the area, and eventually located Irving Lewis Saunders, 17, and Jashon Aaron Samuels, 18. Soon after, officers saw the remaining suspect get into a vehicle driven by a woman. Officers stopped the vehicle and took Thoushal Nakill Lucas, 19, into custody.
The victim from Cash America Pawn identified all four suspects and indicated that Samuels was the one who punched him in the face, Pihera said. The victim from Cubesmart identified Saunders and Samuels as the suspects who robbed him, she said.
All the stolen property was recovered and returned to the victims, who were treated by Gwinnett fire crews.
The teens were taken to the Gwinnett County Jail on armed robbery charges, Pihera said. In addition to armed robbery, Lucas was charged with obstruction of an officer, battery and criminal trespass. Saunders was charged with simple battery and obstruction of an officer.
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