On a Thursday morning in Detroit, 20-year-old Tyler 'T.J.' Taylor was on his way to work, a routine journey that ended in tragedy. It was October 17, 2013, when he was found lying on the sidewalk in the 12000 block of Duchess Street, near Kelly Road and Morang Drive on the city's east side. He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Having just celebrated his twentieth birthday the week prior, his life was abruptly cut short.
In the wake of his death, police had few details to release about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and had not identified any suspects. Taylor was remembered by his family as a caring young man who was actively preparing for his GED after attending Denby High School. He dedicated much of his personal time to looking after his younger brother and his elderly grandmother, both of whom had health complications. His loved ones described the immense pain of their loss, with his sister expressing her profound grief and his grandmother appealing to the community for any information that could lead to an arrest.
Despite his family's heartfelt pleas for justice and the offering of a cash reward of up to $2,500 by Crime Stoppers of Michigan for information leading to an arrest, the case of Tyler 'T.J.' Taylor's murder remains unsolved. There have been no public announcements regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the years following his death. The senseless act of violence that took his life has left a void in the lives of his family, who continue to seek answers and closure.
