In the small community of Alpine, Alabama, William Gerry Taylor was a local institution. The 73-year-old White male was the longtime owner of the Four Way Grocery on Plant Road, a store that residents described as a one-stop shop for everything from milk to car batteries. For many, especially elderly people without transportation, Mr. Taylor and his store were a vital part of daily life.
The community was left with a void when his familiar presence was suddenly and violently taken away.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, June 29, 2021, a customer entered the grocery store around 2:00 p.m. and found a disturbing scene. Mr. Taylor was behind the counter, unconscious and unresponsive. The customer called 911, but medical intervention was unsuccessful. Mr. Taylor, who had suffered a gunshot wound, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Talladega County Sheriff’s Office launched a homicide investigation and soon determined that Mr. Taylor had been killed during the course of a robbery. Within weeks, investigators identified persons of interest and began making arrests. On July 20, 2021, authorities took 17-year-old Lakendrick Jamal Jones of nearby Childersburg into custody. Nine days later, on July 29, they arrested a second suspect, 16-year-old Christopher Zavon Jamerson of Alpine.
Both teenagers were charged with capital murder. Due to the severity of the charges and their ages, they were automatically certified to be tried as adults and were held in the Talladega County Jail without bond. As the case moved through the justice system, there was a significant development. Christopher Zavon Jamerson pleaded guilty to capital murder for his role in the robbery and fatal shooting of William Gerry Taylor. With this plea, the case is considered solved.
