Fernandina Beach Police arrest robbery suspects

Submitted by Chief James T. Hurley
Fernandina Beach Police Department
February 27, 2020

Zachary Burwell. Pirates Bay Drive, Fernandina Beach

During the evening hours of February 23rd, four armed men entered a residence on Date Street where the two victims were playing video games.  The armed subjects took the victims’ wallets, cellular telephones, and a handgun that was in a locked box.  One of the victims was hit in the head with a handgun during the robbery, although the injury was not life threatening. The subjects then fled the scene in an unknown type of vehicle. 

Detectives identified two of the armed subjects through interviews with the victims and evidence recovered during the investigation.  

The subjects were identified as Zachary Burwell and Braden Cope.  Arrest warrants were issued for both subjects charging them with Armed Burglary, Armed Robbery, and Aggravated Assault. Cope was also charged with Aggravated Battery.

Braden Cope of Bradenton, FL

Acting on our information, authorities in Bradenton, FL located and arrested Burwell and Cope yesterday along with the other two subjects. At the time of their arrest these subjects were in possession of some of the items stolen during the Armed Robbery on Date Street.  

The other two subjects are juveniles and their names will not be released at this time.  Cope is also being held in connection with an Armed Robbery that took place in Bradenton, FL on Saturday, February 22nd.