On January 19, 2023, at approximately 1:30 a.m., 48-year-old Nicholas Sharkey Phillips and 52-year-old Michael Bernard Moore were fatally shot outside the Villages of Briggs Ranch apartment complex in West Bexar County, near San Antonio, Texas. Both men sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigations by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office revealed that the incident likely stemmed from an argument over car keys, suggesting that the victims and the
suspects were acquainted. Later that day, 42-year-old Sheryce Wiley-Taylor was arrested and charged with capital murder. Initially, Wiley-Taylor claimed to be a witness; however, after further questioning, deputies identified her as a suspect.
Authorities also identified Wiley-Taylor's son, 25-year-old Deleon Malik Taylor-Griffin, as a person of interest in the case. Taylor-Griffin, who had outstanding warrants in Washington State for failure to appear on prior domestic violence and burglary charges, was considered "armed and dangerous." The sheriff's office sought public assistance in locating him.
Subsequently, Taylor-Griffin was apprehended and charged with capital murder. Investigators determined that he was visiting his mother from Washington State at the time of the incident. On the night of the shooting, Wiley-Taylor had ordered a Lyft but canceled it upon noticing Moore and Phillips sitting in a vehicle outside the apartment complex. After a confrontation, Taylor-Griffin allegedly shot both men. Surveillance footage showed Wiley-Taylor rummaging through the victims' vehicle after the shooting before fleeing with her son.
Both Wiley-Taylor and Taylor-Griffin faced capital murder charges for their involvement in the deaths of Phillips and Moore. The case underscored the complexities of familial relationships entangled in criminal activities and highlighted the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing violent crimes involving close acquaintances.
