Police brutality cases have become so common, you would’ve let the brutal killing of Shamari Taylor fly right under your nose. Oh wait...prosecutors say the cops behind his killing weren’t cops at all.
You didn’t hear ‘bout it? The 2006 case is just now being prosecuted.
Back then, Taylor and his girlfriend were allegedly kidnapped by five men impersonating Philadelphia cops. Federal prosecutors claim the group approached the couple as they sat in their car and abducted the two to a warehouse. They then stole their drugs and money.
After the ordeal, only the girlfriend was let go. The next day, Taylor was still missing. However, while on the search for him, authorities ended up responding to his home where his mother and sister were found with gunshot wounds to the head, per the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Both survived their injuries.
It wasn’t until 2018 that police located Taylor’s remains in a shallow grave on the north side of the city, per CBS News. Prosecutors claim he was suffocated to death by the group of fake cops.
The investigation by the FBI, Philadelphia Police and more law enforcement agencies resulted in the recent indictment of 45-year-old Kevin Holloway, 48-year-old Mark Scott, 50-year-old Linton Mathis, 47-year-old Atiba Wicker and 51-year-old Kenneth Tuck.
Each are charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, as well as aiding and abetting.
All these years later, charges are finally being introduced? Tuck was arrested initially in 2006 on charges in connection to the killing but eventually received an acquittal after not one but two trials.
Now, it seems all the men could be in big trouble.
“Anyone who commits a heinous crime and is still walking free years later might just assume they’ve gotten away with it,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero. “Well, they should think again. We and our law enforcement partners will doggedly pursue justice for victims of violence and accountability for the perpetrators — no matter how long it may take.”