Murder suspect on trial for 2011 pizza delivery robbery

ALBANY — A defendant indicted on a felony murder charge in the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy in 2011 is to go on trial this week in a pizza delivery robbery case from an incident that occurred the evening before the shooting.

Jury selection began Monday in Dougherty Superior Court in the pizza delivery robbery case against Taiun Davis, Dougherty District Attorney Greg Edwards said. Davis one of the people connected to the robbery, which was reported to have taken place around 9:45 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2011 at 608 Moultrie Road.

The driver was called to deliver a pizza to a vacant apartment when a group of gunmen robbed him of cash, sodas and pizzas, police said. The driver, William Arthur Tift Jr., 20, managed to escape in his vehicle, police said.

Davis was indicted on charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime a few months later.

Davis has not yet stood trial for the shooting death of James Anderson, 14, that occurred the day after the robbery. The teenager was found lying face down in a bedroom at 801 Mercedes St. with a bullet wound to the back of his head. police said Davis rode a bicycle to his residence at 501-A Bobbitt Drive, where he was taken into custody.

Davis was indicted on a felony murder charge in James’ death.