Armed Robbery Suspects Face Additional Charges

The suspects were caught during a traffic stop April 16 when deputies allegedly found items belonging to the first robbery victim inside the car.

Further investigation linked the four to robberies on Feb. 19 on Weymouth Street and on April 10 on Garrett Road.

Lavarus Deleon Atwater, 16, of Jones Ferry Road in Chapel Hill, is charged with four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, one count of larceny of a motor vehicle, two counts of simple assault, one count of assault by pointing a gun, one count of assault on a child under 12, two counts of discharging a firearm in the city limits and one count of damage to personal property.

The three others -- Nicholas Nickerson, 24, of Hill Street in Carrboro; Dreycell Markees Johnson, 17, of Ford Road in Chapel Hill; and George Gattis Jr., 17, of Hill Street in Carrboro -- are each charged with four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of larceny of a motor vehicle, two counts of simple assault, one count of discharging a firearm in the city limits and one count of injury to personal property.

Police said further charges are pending.