Desmond Alonzo Taylor, a 24-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on October 13, 2016, in Wilson, North Carolina. His body was discovered on the 400 block of Privette Street, with a gunshot wound to the left side of his face. Taylor's death was initially deemed suspicious and later classified as a homicide. The investigation revealed that Taylor had been lured to the location by Markayla Shantazjah Smith, a 17-year-old African American female, who had been in a romantic
relationship with him. Smith, along with her co-defendants, Coby Marshon Thomas and Jordan Lee, both 18-year-old African American males, conspired to rob Taylor under the direction of Curtis Tavares Curry, a 31-year-old African American male.
Curtis Tavares Curry, who had a history of criminal convictions, was identified as the alleged shooter. On the night of the murder, Smith lured Taylor to the end of Privette Street and engaged in sexual activity with him in a car while Curry, Thomas, and Lee hid nearby with a .22-caliber rifle. As Taylor opened the car door, Curry fired the fatal shot, taking $400 from Taylor before disposing of the rifle in the nearby Toisnot Reservoir. Taylor, who held three jobs and had three young children, was described by his mother, Melissa Taylor, as a good kid who trusted Smith.
Following the murder, all four suspects were arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Smith, Thomas, and Lee received lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the crime. Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2020 and was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years and a maximum of 15 years, 5 months in state prison. Thomas and Lee also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received similar sentences. Curry, who had been committed to a state mental hospital for evaluations, faced multiple delays in his trial due to questions about his mental competency. In May 2023, Curry was deemed mentally fit to stand trial, and the first-degree murder charges against him were reinstated.
The case against Curry and his co-defendants was marked by numerous legal proceedings and delays. Curry's mental state was a significant factor in the case, leading to his involuntary commitment to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services for restorative services. The court ordered that Curry remain committed indefinitely until he is fit to stand trial. The case remains ongoing, with Curry's next court appearance scheduled for February 21, 2024.
