In the early morning hours of December 8, 2013, a festive gathering at a Tempe, Arizona apartment complex took a tragic turn, ending the life of 28-year-old Jeffrey Michael Ward. An uninvited guest, Daniel Taylor, then 18 years old, had been asked to leave the party earlier in the evening. He later returned and opened fire on the patio of the residence, striking Ward and a female guest.
Jeffrey Ward was fatally wounded in the attack.
The senseless act of violence stemmed from Taylor being ejected from the private party he had attempted to crash. According to police reports, Taylor was first asked to leave due to his attire. After changing his clothes and returning, he was once again told to depart as it was a private event. His final return to the apartment in the 800 block of South River Drive resulted in the deadly shooting. The female victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital.
Following the incident, Tempe police quickly identified and arrested Daniel Taylor. He was taken into custody and subsequently faced charges for the murder of Jeff Ward and the aggravated assault of the second victim. Justice for Jeffrey Ward and the wounded woman came when Daniel Cody Taylor, at the age of 19, was sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison. The sentence consisted of 22 years for second-degree murder and an additional nine years for the aggravated assault charge.
Jeffrey Michael Ward, originally from Bangor, Maine, was a graduate of Bangor High School and had attended Arizona State University, where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Described as having a love for the outdoors, he was an active individual who enjoyed hiking, biking, and camping. His life, full of adventure and connection with others, was cut short in a moment of inexplicable violence.
