On May 3, 2025, a deadly shooting unfolded in the parking lot of a Foot Locker store at East Eight Mile and Kelly roads, claiming the lives of two individuals and injuring two others. The incident, occurring around 2:50 p.m., has led to the arrest of 19-year-old Lakylia Sheila Taylor from Detroit, who now faces charges including second-degree murder. Her brother, Dejuan Jermain Taylor, 21, is also implicated, facing charges related to the aftermath of the chaotic event.
The shooting erupted from a heated argument that escalated into a physical altercation involving Dejuan Taylor. Reports indicate that Lakylia Taylor retrieved an unregistered firearm from a car and opened fire. She allegedly shot Juvan Maurice Newman, who was engaged in the fight with her brother, followed by Steven Edward Gardin Jr. and Tyjaune Pierre Morris-Turner as they attempted to intervene. Gardin and Newman succumbed to their injuries, while Morris-Turner was left severely wounded. In a tragic twist, Taylor accidentally shot her brother during the melee. She then fled the scene with Dejuan and her teenage cousins, only turning herself in to authorities on May 5, 2025.
Taylor, a recent high school graduate, had been shopping for shoes with her cousins at the time, adding a layer of everyday normalcy to the prelude of the violent outburst. The incident, captured on three videotapes by Eastpointe Police, has drawn significant attention due to its public setting and the complexity of the ensuing legal battle.
Lakylia Taylor was arraigned on May 8, 2025, in 38th District Court before Judge Kathleen Galen. She faces a slew of charges: two counts of second-degree homicide, assault with intent to murder, tampering with evidence, carrying a concealed weapon, and two counts of felony firearm. Her bond was set at a steep $2.5 million cash/surety only, with no 10% option, reflecting the gravity of the accusations. Upcoming court dates include a probable cause conference on May 20, 2025, and a preliminary examination on May 27, 2025. If convicted of the most serious charge, Taylor could face life imprisonment.
Her brother, Dejuan Taylor, is charged with tampering with evidence, firearms larceny, carrying a concealed weapon, and larceny less than $200. His bond is set at $250,000, suggesting his role in the incident’s aftermath, possibly linked to handling the firearm post-shooting.
Taylor’s defense attorney, Randall Upshaw, asserts that she acted to protect her brother from imminent danger.
“She didn’t know this individual. She had no beef with this individual,” Upshaw stated, adding, “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.”
However, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido paints a starkly different picture, labeling the shooting a “senseless act of violence.” The prosecution argues that Taylor’s response was excessive, pointing to her firing at point-blank range at a victim on the ground and continuing to shoot in a crowded public area, potentially endangering bystanders. The video evidence, yet to be fully disclosed, is expected to play a pivotal role in resolving these conflicting accounts.
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Supporters of Taylor rally behind the self-defense claim, while critics and the prosecution emphasize the recklessness of her actions, particularly given the unregistered gun and her flight from the scene with family members.
This incident raises broader questions about self-defense laws, the use of deadly force in public spaces, and the consequences of unregistered firearms. For Taylor, her family, and the Eastpointe community, the outcome could resonate far beyond the courtroom, highlighting the fine line between protection and peril in moments of crisis.
