Gwinnett County

Attorney: Teen was 'stupid' but didn't kill Gwinnett pizza driver

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — The trial has begun for a 15-year-old boy accused of killing a pizza delivery driver in suburban Atlanta earlier this year.

Reginald Lofton has been charged as an adult in Shane Varnadore's March killing and is facing counts of murder, felony murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Authorities believe he and 21-year-old Jermaine Young ordered Papa John's pizza to lure Varnadore to a Lawrenceville apartment complex and fatally shoot him in the chest. The pizza and handgun were found at the suspects' apartment.

Defense attorney Leanne Chancey on Tuesday said the boy was "stupid" to pick up the pizzas but didn't take part in the shooting. Young hasn't been tried yet.

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One of the witnesses on the stand Tuesday was the manager of the Papa John's store. He described how he became worried when his longtime employee didn't return from the last two deliveries of the night.

“I started calling him over and over again,” said manager Tristan Zeder. “I just kept calling him back to back.”

Prosecutors say they don’t' know who fired the fatal shot that killed Varnadore.

Lofton's attorney told jurors taken through the eyes of a confused then-14-year-old, she can prove he had no intent to commit a crime, much less a murder.

Prosecutors say both are culpable, no matter who pulled the trigger.

The suspects' troubled past

On Facebook, Channel 2 Action News found pictures of the two Chicago natives posing together and posing with guns.

Sources tell Channel 2 Action News that Young and Lofton moved to Gwinnett County to escape their pasts in Chicago. %

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We spoke to Chicago authorities who say Young has 22 criminal cases tied to his name. In the past, he's faced a judge for drug charges, domestic violence, robbery and aggravated battery.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Cox Media Group

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