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Two teens arrested in armed robbery near Cumming
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Stephan Burnette, left, and Troy Palmer, right

CUMMING — Two Roswell teenagers have been arrested in connection with the robbery Tuesday night of a gas station east of Cumming near Lake Lanier, authorities said.

Stephan Burnette, 17, and Troy Palmer, 18, were each charged with armed robbery, according to Epifanio Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

Burnette, who is the son of Roswell Fire Chief Ricky Burnette, also faces one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The fire chief confirmed in an email that the younger Burnette is his son, but did not want to comment further.

The suspects had reportedly also conducted armed robberies in Roswell and Cobb and Gwinnett counties that night.

According to initial reports, they entered the Chevron gas station at 2595 Buford Dam Road about 9 p.m.

No one was injured in the incident, but Burnette reportedly pointed a semi-automatic gun at the chest of an employee.

After getting an undisclosed amount of money, the teens drove off in a black sports utility vehicle, Rodriguez said.

They were later arrested about 2 a.m. Wednesday during a traffic stop on Buford Highway (Hwy. 20) at the entrance to Ga. 400. The stop was made when a deputy matched the vehicle's description to lookout information.

Rodriguez said evidence of the crime — including the gun, a bandana worn by Burnette and about $1,000 — was found in the vehicle.

Both suspects are being held at the Forsyth County Jail without bond.

Rodriguez said drugs and alcohol were not thought to be factors in the incident.