A local activist, not specifically antigun, was killed in Philadelphia the other day after having an argument with the wrong store owner.
Jeff
Address:http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/2000/Apr/07/city/PSTORE07.htm
April 7, 2000
Man slain on South Phila. street
By Robert Moran
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Gardner Taylor, 38, was known around his neighborhood in South Philadelphia as something of an activist who tried to keep the streets clean.
Yesterday afternoon, he was shot to death at 24th and Morris Streets in front of the Last Stop Cafe during an argument with the owner of a store across the street, police said.
Friends of Taylor, who knew him as "Tweety," said he had gotten into an argument with the owner of Jaquez Mini Market, a neighborhood store at the southwest corner of the intersection. The two men had argued over a delivery truck that was parked in front of the store and partially blocking handicapped access to the sidewalk.
Police confirmed that the shooting began with an argument about where the truck was parked but refused to elaborate.
Police said the 22-year-old store owner, Martin Jaquez, will be charged with murder and related offenses.
At 2:35 p.m., according to police, Jaquez shot at Taylor as he stood in front of the store, then continued shooting until Taylor collapsed in front of the Last Stop Cafe, a corner bar where he was a regular. Police said Jaquez fired at Taylor at least seven times, wounding him several times in the torso. Some of the shots were fired as the gunman stood over the fallen Taylor, police said.
Taylor was taken to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, where he died at 3:48 p.m.
As detectives examined the crime scene late yesterday afternoon, the white truck, owned by J&L Poultry of Vineland, N.J., was still parked at the corner.
The owner of J&L Poultry, Joseph Loebenstein, said his driver was being questioned by police as a witness. He said his driver was making a delivery when the shooting occurred. He said he knew nothing about the shooting except what he saw on television.
Taylor lived alone in a green and white rowhouse on the 1700 block of Taylor Street, two blocks from where he was gunned down, his family said.
On Ringgold Street between Taylor and 24th, the victim's family was in shock over the deadly assault.
His mother, Jessie Taylor, 62, recalled how he would sweep the sidewalks, help neighbors with repairs and make sure they were safe against crime.
"That was just his nature," his mother said. "He wanted to make things better."
Taylor, who according to his family and friends did not have a regular job, was never married. He had an 8-year-old son, Timothy Brooks, Taylor's mother said.
At the Last Stop Cafe, patrons fondly recalled a friend who tried to improve the neighborhood.
"If something needed to be done in the neighborhood, he was one of the first guys to volunteer," said Ed Miller, 54.
Most of the bar customers knew Taylor as Tweety, though they did not know how he got the nickname.
Eddie Shaird, 54, said Taylor would make sandwiches at home and deliver them to a glass plant at 25th and Morris where Shaird worked.
Shaird said he last saw Taylor around 12:30 yesterday at the plant.
"I told him to bring me a sandwich tomorrow," said Shaird, who then shook his head. "Now Tweety's gone."
I missed the news last night so I didn't see it. Maybe they will replay it on CLTV?