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Second man convicted in killing of Gwinnett pizza delivery driver

It only took a jury a couple of hours to find the man guilty.
By Amanda C. Coyne
May 18, 2018

A second man has been convicted in the killing of a 28-year-old pizza delivery driver in Lawrenceville.

Jermaine Young, 23, was convicted of murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery in the killing of Shane Varnadore. A jury deliberated for less than five hours Thursday before returning a guilty verdict on all charges.

MORE | Teen convicted in pizza driver's murder gets possibility of parole

PREVIOUSLY | Papa John's pizza delivery man shot and killed in Gwinnett County

Reginald Lofton, who was 14 at the time of the killing, was convicted of murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery in November 2016. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Varnadore was killed in August 2016 when he was making a delivery to a Lawrenceville apartment complex shortly before midnight. Young and Lofton lured him to the area to rob him, according to Gwinnett County police. Varnadore was shot and left to die in the parking lot as Young and Lofton took the pizza he was delivering and ate it with friends in a nearby apartment, according to prosecutors.

Young’s defense attorneys did not call any witnesses during the trial.

Young was sentenced to life without parole and an additional 20 years.

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About the Author

Amanda Coyne is a hyperlocal reporter for the AJC, covering Gwinnett County.

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