Taylor Diorio, a 17-year-old girl from Chicago Ridge, IL, tragically lost her life on August 18, 2012. Taylor was a passenger in a car when she was shot in the head in the early morning hours. The incident occurred near the residence of Joseph Sanders, a 23-year-old Chicago street gang member, in the McKinley Park neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. According to prosecutors, the vehicle Taylor was in stopped in front of Sanders' home, and another passenger briefly got out of the car.
Sanders claimed that a bottle was thrown at him when he looked out of a second-story window, prompting him to fire a gun multiple times at the car. One of the shots struck Taylor in the right side of her head. The driver of the car then rushed Taylor to a hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
The case led to the arrest and conviction of Joseph Sanders. He was found guilty of second-degree murder in February 2016. During the trial, Cook County prosecutors presented evidence that Sanders had fired the shots that killed Taylor Diorio. Sanders was sentenced to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for his role in the shooting. The sentencing took place at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, where Cook County Judge Thomas Gainer handed down the sentence.
Taylor Diorio's death was a tragic loss for her family and community. She was remembered as a beloved daughter, sister, and fiancée. Her obituary highlighted her close relationships with her family members and her fiancé, Paul Westby. The community mourned her passing and honored her memory with a funeral service held at Salerno’s Rosedale Chapels in Roselle, IL.
