Second arrest made in Washington homicide case

Phillip Whitlock Jr. was arrested three years ago on charges of shooting and killing two men and wounding a woman in an ambush outside a Washington County bar.

Last week, as he awaited trial and a possible death penalty if convicted, Whitlock told police the name of an accomplice in the shootings that occurred at 2:10 a.m. Feb. 16, 2009, outside the former Cabaret West Bar on West Chestnut Street in the city of Washington.

An accused accomplice, Gregory Avery Jr., 23, of Washington, was arrested on Monday on charges of criminal homicide for the slayings of Marquis Taylor, 24, of Washington and Troy Saunders, 23, of Canton.

According to the criminal complaint:

A woman who was wounded in the ambush, Lindsay Jolly, told police that Whitlock began shooting as she, Saunders and Taylor walked out of the tavern. Taylor, who was shot six times, collapsed and Saunders ran off toward Fayette Street, where he was shot in the back by a second assailant.

Whitlock, whose trial is scheduled this week, talked to investigators on Thursday and identified Avery as his accomplice. Whitlock told investigators that Avery first shot Taylor before chasing Saunders with a .22 caliber handgun.

Seven of the 16 shell casings found at the scene came from a second gun that Whitlock admitted having.

The tavern has been closed as a nuisance bar.