College student waives hearing in pizza deliverer killing

The 18-year-old Southwest Philadelphia college freshman who allegedly came up with the idea of robbing a pizza delivery driver – gunned down as soon as he stepped out of his car -- has waived her right to a preliminary hearing and will go directly to trial on murder, robbery and related charges.

Xylaca Devlin waived her preliminary hearing during a brief appearance Wednesday before Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge David C. Shuter.

Devlin; Rashad Cheeseboro, 23; Michael Covington, 21; and Keyona Jones, 18; were arrested by Philadelphia police on Monday in the Jan. 3 murder of Ronald Anderson Jr., 29, a driver working at Hot Spot Pizza in Southwest Philadelphia for three months.

Shuter set Feb. 8 for the preliminary hearing for Cheeseboro, Covington and Jones. Devlin, Cheeseboro and Covington are from Southwest Philadelphia – the first two from Eastwick and Covington from Elmwood. Jones is from Magnolia in Camden County.

Anderson, who lived with his wife and young daughter in Chester, got the order shortly before closing to deliver a pizza to the 2500 block of Massey Street in Elmwood.

Arriving shortly after 10 p.m., Anderson discovered he was at a vacant house. Police said Devlin and Jones were waiting on the street but as soon as Anderson exited his car two men – allegedly Cheeseboro and Covington – ran up and shot him.

The four robbers took the food – but no money – and ran, police said. Police said tips from community members led to the four arrests.