In the late hours of a Tuesday night in March 2016, Shane Varnadore, a 28-year-old man, was diligently working his job as a Papa John's pizza delivery driver in Lawrenceville, Georgia. A delivery call dispatched him to an apartment complex on Herrington Road, a routine task that tragically turned into his final moments. Responding to reports of gunshots shortly before midnight, police discovered Varnadore's body, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound.
The initial investigation pointed towards a robbery, a senseless act of violence for what would prove to be a meager gain.
The investigation quickly led to two individuals, 21-year-old Jermaine Young and 14-year-old Reginald Lofton. Authorities determined that the pizza order was a deliberate setup to lure a delivery driver to the location for the purpose of robbing them. An order slip found near Varnadore's body with a phone number was a key piece of evidence that led detectives to the apartment where the suspects were located. Inside, they found the pizza boxes from the delivery. Investigators also recovered the handgun used in the shooting, which had been hidden inside a pancake box. Despite the apparent motive of robbery, cash was found in Varnadore's pocket, and it appeared that only the pizzas had been stolen.
Both Young and Lofton were arrested and charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, and armed robbery. Due to the severity of the crime, the 14-year-old, Reginald Lofton, was charged as an adult. During legal proceedings, each suspect reportedly blamed the other for pulling the trigger.
In November 2016, Reginald Lofton was convicted of felony murder. While he was acquitted of malice murder, which implies intent, under Georgia law, his participation in the armed robbery that led to a death made him culpable. Lofton admitted to knowing about the robbery plan, providing the gun, and taking the pizzas after the shooting. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. In May 2018, Jermaine Young was also convicted on charges of murder, aggravated assault, and armed robbery. A jury found him guilty, and he was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with an additional 20 years. Both convictions were later upheld on appeal.
