Mother of two set up by her Dollar Tree co-worker to be robbed & killed for her $7,000 Tax Refund

WILKINSBURG, Pennsylvania – On Thursday morning, Kejuana Lynette Davis, 27, a mother of two, headed to work at the Dollar General on Laketon Road in Wilkinsburg.

Little did Kejuana know February 22 would be her last day on earth.

Davis’ 21-year-old co-worker Alana Whitley, had found out about her $7,000 tax refund check.

Whitley apparently texted her friend Dane James Taylor, 21,  telling him about the money.

In the text messages, Whitley allegedly tells Taylor, “This girl at my job brought 7 bands to work ain’t that some s***.”

After Alana texted Taylor about the money, the two conspired to steal it, police said. Taylor then hired a Facebook acquaintance, 23-year-old Kajin Xavier Scott, to give him a ride

Over an hour later, the next text from Taylor to Whitley said: “It’s a go delete all dez text.”

It would all go down at 2:30 p.m. when Kejuana got off work.

According to the police report, Scott drove a gray Corolla.  He claimed Taylor told him he needed to see a girl to pick up some money. Taylor directed him to drive to the Dollar General and park in the rear of the building.

Scott said while waiting, he got out of the car at one point to urinate next to an abandoned home. When he got back in the car, Scott said Taylor was wearing a mask on his face and had a gun in his hand.

Scott told police Taylor received a text on his phone which said,”Go!” At that point, he followed Taylor’s directions, leading them to the victim, Davis, walking up Laketon Road. Scott was told to pull ahead of the victim, get out, and pretend to be fixing the car.

Police say that’s when Taylor got out and chased the victim toward an open lot.

Scott heard Taylor yelling “give it to me.” Davis told Taylor she didn’t have money and begged him to stop, police said. As he tried to take her purse, Kejuana fell on the ground.

As Kejuana lay on the ground in the ensuing confrontation, Taylor fired two shots at her. The first one missed, and the second went through Davis’ hip, police said.

Taylor snatched Davis’ purse and ran back to the car, then Scott drove off, the affidavit said.

The shooting was reported about 2:50 p.m. in the 1700 block of Laketon Road. First responders found Kejuana suffering from a gunshot wound when they arrived on scene. She was transported to  UPMC Presbyterian hospital where she died, less than an hour later.

Investigators talked to witnesses and used surveillance footage to identify the Corolla and trace it back to Scott, who confessed his role, according to the affidavit.

Scott told police that he knew Taylor by the nickname “HD” but didn’t know his real name.

Through Kajin Scott, detectives identified Alana Whitley. They then used texts on Alana’s phone and social media posts to identify “HD” as Taylor.

On Saturday, members of the fugitive squad apprehended the suspected shooter Dane James Taylor, 21. He was discovered hiding in a North Braddock residence at 12:21 p.m., Allegheny County Police said.

The purse had only $3,000 and not $7,000.  Apparently a friend brought a portion of the money ($3,000) to Kejuana’s place of employment earlier in the day, and that’s how her co-worker, Alana,  found out about the money.

Taylor paid Scott $800, kept $800 for himself and gave the rest to Alana, according to police.

All three were arrested and charged with robbery, criminal homicide,  and conspiracy. Taylor also is charged with carrying a firearm without a license. They are being held at the Allegheny County Jail.

Kejuana Davis leaves behind two kids.

A crowdfunding page has been set up to pay for funeral expenses. So far $8,031 has been raised by 231 people in the  past 3 days.

Alana’s Facebook profile speaks volumes about her.