March 6, 2009
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

THREE TEENS ARRESTED FOR PIZZA DELIVERYMAN ROBBERY

Three teens were arrested Thursday night in DeBary for robbing a pizza deliveryman in the driveway of a vacant home. The victim said that he was forced at gunpoint to lie down in the driveway while the trio took his wallet, cell phone and pizzas. No one was injured during the robbery, and later the investigation revealed that the weapons were Airsoft pistols rather than real guns. Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies searched the area and zeroed in on the suspects in a home less than a mile away from the robbery scene. Two defendants, ages 18 and 19, were booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach while a 16-year-old defendant was transported to the Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

The 28-year-old Domino’s Pizza employee drove to 248 Toms Road to deliver three pizzas at approximately 9:45 p.m., but he said that he was leery because the area was dark and he was met at the end of the driveway by the supposed customer. The boy, later identified as 16-year-old Ulysses Francis, told the deliveryman that he didn’t have the money on him and needed to go back to the house to get it. He led the deliveryman to a door and knocked, but as soon as he did two men wearing masks and brandishing guns approached them from behind the house. The men told the victim that they were DEA agents and ordered him to the ground. They then directed him to empty his pockets and the victim complied. The three suspects took the man’s wallet and pizzas, and took his cell phone from inside his car. They then fled into a wooded area behind the house. The victim went to a nearby convenience store to report the robbery.

Deputies responded to the scene, set up a perimeter and searched for the suspects. While the search was ongoing a deputy noticed a man drive by the area three times, and recognized him as Zachory Gavis, 19, who the deputy had dealt with on previous occasions. The deputy also knew that one of Gavis’ friends matched a suspect description given by the pizza deliveryman. Furthermore, deputies found the victim’s cell phone on the ground in the vicinity of Gavis’ home. Deputies knocked on Gavis’ door at 232 Sunrise Blvd. and asked the men inside to step outside. The victim was then brought by to see the men, and he immediately pointed out Francis as one of his assailants. After further investigation and interviews, Francis, Gavis and 18-year-old Charles Luce were arrested. DeBary residents Gavis and Luce were charged with robbery with a firearm and theft. Francis, who lives in Deltona, was charged with armed robbery, burglary of a conveyance and petty theft.