The man accused of killing a DeKalb County officer last week is a South Carolina native who is survived by a wife and his parents.
A funeral service is tentatively scheduled for Saturday for Brandan Jermaine Taylor, 33.
But there’s still very little known about the man shot to death one week ago after three officers returned fire. The two big questions remained unanswered: Why did Taylor run? And why did he shoot and kill Officer Edgar Flores?
On Wednesday, DeKalb police referred questions on the incident to the GBI, which is investigating the Dec. 13 shooting on Candler Road. The GBI declined to release additional information, citing the ongoing investigation. The DeKalb District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for information about any previous cases involving Taylor.
Flores, 24, was attempting a traffic stop on Taylor shortly before 6 p.m. when Taylor got out of his vehicle and ran, according to investigators. As Flores chased him, Taylor fired a gun at the officer, fatally wounding him.
Taylor again ran, this time behind a tire shop. With the help of a police K-9, Taylor was located and again fired shots, wounding the dog, the GBI said. Three officers then returned fire, killing Taylor. According to the DeKalb Medical Examiner’s Officer, Taylor died from multiple gunshot wounds. Toxicology tests were pending.
Though Taylor has no known criminal history in Georgia, South Carolina court records show Taylor pleaded guilty to assault in January 2005 and was sentenced to five years. He was arrested again in 2009 on drug and weapon charges, but was never prosecuted, Sumter County court records show.
Taylor is a native of Sumter, S.C., according to his online obituary. He is survived by his wife, Latasha Robinson Taylor, and parents Benjamin Clark and Bernetta Taylor Peeples, his obituary states. A funeral is planned for Saturday, according to Job’s Mortuary in Sumter.
About the Author
