Three people have been arrested in relation to the attempted armed robbery of a Decatur County convenience store.

Ray Charles Simmons, 30, of Quincy, Florida, is facing charges of criminal attempt to commit an armed robbery, armed robbery and multiple counts of aggravated assault. Michael Jermaine Simmons, 32, of Quincy, Florida is charged with kidnapping, criminal attempt to commit an armed robbery and armed robbery. Chonda Wynette Lane, 39, of Tallahassee, Florida, is charged with kidnapping and criminal attempt to commit an armed robbery. Ray Simmons and Michael Simmons are being held in Florida, and Lane, the girlfriend of Ray Simmons, is being held in Decatur County.

On Oct. 15, Ray Simmons and Michael Simmons allegedly entered the A & A convenience store off of Georgia 97 South wearing hoodies and covering their faces. Ray Simmons allegedly shot at the store owner behind the counter. One of the men then jumped the counter and then the owner produced a gun and shot at the suspects about four times.

The suspects fled without taking any money or goods, but grabbed a man as hostage on their way out to the car Lane was allegedly driving.

The suspects took what money the hostage had on him, and he was released on the side of the road, about three miles south of the store in the area of Southlands Forest.

Decatur County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Robert Humphrey said that apprehending the three was done with the help of Leon County Sheriff’s Office and Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators. Two days prior to the attempted robbery, a similar incident occurred in Gadsden County at a convenience store.

Through security video, evidence from the crime scene and credit card records, investigators were able to piece it together, and name Lane as a suspect, Humphrey said.

After Lane was arrested, evidence surfaced that tied the two men to the incident. Ray Simmons was already in custody in Leon County on unrelated charges, and Michael Simmons was arrested at his Quincy residence.