Angelia Smith Taylor, a 57-year-old African American woman, was tragically murdered on April 9, 2014, in Wendell, North Carolina. Angelia and her husband, Sylvester Taylor, were both victims of a brutal shooting at their home. The couple was well-known in their community, with Angelia serving as a pastor and Sylvester as a deacon. Their daughter, LaTonya Taylor, and her children were living with them at the time of the incident.
On the night of the murder, LaTonya called 911 to report gunshots at their residence. Shortly after, her son Jeremy also called 911, stating that his mother had been shot. When authorities arrived, they found Angelia dead from a gunshot wound to the chest in a bedroom, while Sylvester was found in the backyard, having been shot multiple times. LaTonya was discovered with life-threatening injuries in another bedroom and was rushed to the hospital.
The perpetrator of this heinous crime was identified as Nathan Holden, LaTonya's estranged husband. Nathan and LaTonya had separated a few months before the incident, and she had taken out a restraining order against him due to his threats and harassment. On the night of the murder, Nathan arrived at the Taylor residence and opened fire on his in-laws, killing Angelia and Sylvester, and seriously injuring LaTonya.
Nathan Holden was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, among other charges. During his trial in 2017, LaTonya and Jeremy testified about the events leading up to the shooting. LaTonya recounted hearing gunshots and trying to protect her children by hiding them in a closet. Jeremy testified that after shooting LaTonya, Nathan hugged the children, told them he loved them, and then called 911 before leaving.
The trial concluded with Nathan Holden being found guilty of the first-degree murder of Angelia Smith Taylor and Sylvester Taylor. LaTonya, who survived the attack, expressed relief and a sense of closure after the trial, although she continues to grapple with the emotional aftermath of the tragedy.
