Authorities in Michigan have arrested and charged a 19-year-old woman with opening fire on four people, killing two of them, during an altercation in front of a Foot Locker shop in Eastpointe.
According to FOX 2 Detroit, the tragic May 3 incident occurred after two groups of people got into a verbal dispute that escalated into physical violence. The altercation involved individuals who knew each other, and the shooting inflicted injuries on two of them.
The suspect, Lakylia Taylor, is reported to have opened fire during the altercation. However, Taylor’s defense counsel, Randall Upshaw, claimed that she fired because one of the victims attempted to kill her brother and was armed.
“She didn’t know this individual. She had no beef with this individual,” Upshaw claimed. “But she’s crying out there watching her brother attempt to be murdered. At this point, she runs to the car and grabs what we believe to be her brother’s pistol.”
Upshaw also claimed Taylor acted in self-defense, but the prosecutor’s office disagreed.
“Miss Taylor is on video shooting the victims at point-blank range,” Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor, Kumar Palepu, argued. “She repeatedly fired at one of the victims while he was on the ground.
“There is no question she committed these crimes. This happened in broad daylight in a public shopping area lives were taken, and other innocent bystanders were at risk.”
Taylor has since been charged with second-degree murder, felony firearms, attempted murder, tampering with evidence, and concealing a weapon. Authorities also detained her brother, Dejuan Taylor, and charged him with evidence tampering, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
Taylor’s bond was set at $2.5 million cash surety, with her next court appearance scheduled on May 20. “It’s a tragedy; two people died,” Eastpointe Police Department Detective Lt. Alexander Holish stated.
“Ultimately, Miss Taylor’s life is going to be altered forever whatever the outcome of the case.”
