Michael C. Taylor, III, 20, of 1366 Grand Ave., was found guilty of murder with a gun specification for the April 24, 2010, shooting death of Darrin Smith, 20. He was sentenced immediately after to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 18 years.
Twelve witnesses testified over two days, including two who said they saw Taylor use a handgun to shoot Smith multiple times in apparent retaliation for Smith calling him a derogatory name. According to testimony from a deputy Lucas County coroner, Smith died as a result of two gunshot wounds, one of which was fired so close to him that the gunpowder burned through three layers of clothing and could be found on his skin.
Prior to sentencing him to prison, Judge Stacy Cook challenged Taylor to use his time in prison to better himself, and not to become an even more hardened criminal.
“The facts of this case show that at best, this should have been a fist fight had that gun never been in your hand…,” the judge said, noting that when Taylor is in his late 30s, he will have his first attempt at parole. “…If you use this time in prison to become more harden, cold, and deadly, then there is no place for you in this community.”