On September 26, 2021, a vibrant young Black / African American man named Ezra Nehemiah Taylor was tragically killed. The 26-year-old aspiring actor and model was one of three people who lost their lives in a shooting that erupted outside La Familia Sports Pub and Lounge in Des Moines, Washington. The incident, which also claimed the lives of 32-year-old Antoine Matthews and 46-year-old Angelia Hylton, unfolded after a dispute inside the bar escalated and spilled into the parking lot.
The night's events began with an argument between two individuals inside the establishment. This initial conflict moved outdoors, where security personnel intervened and began to disperse the crowd. As people were leaving the area, with some heading towards a nearby Red Lion Hotel and others towards a Walgreens, gunfire suddenly erupted from at least two separate vehicles. Witnesses reported hearing a barrage of 20 to 25 shots. In the ensuing chaos, Ezra Taylor was struck by a gunshot to the head and died from his injuries. His mother, Selena Taylor, later shared that her son was an innocent bystander who had been trying to help and protect others when he was caught in the crossfire.
In the weeks following the shooting, the Des Moines Police Department launched an intensive investigation. After reviewing surveillance footage and gathering information, they identified 44-year-old Joshua D. Puloka, also known as Joshua Everybodytalksabout, as the primary suspect in the murders. Another man, 32-year-old Demarcus L. Simmons, also known as "D Nice," was identified as a person of interest for his alleged involvement in a physical altercation that preceded the shooting. About a month after the incident, Puloka turned himself in to the authorities.
The legal process that followed brought some measure of closure to the families of the victims. In May 2024, a jury found Joshua Puloka guilty on multiple charges, including one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The conviction and sentencing marked the culmination of a nearly three-year journey for justice for the families of Ezra Taylor, Antoine Matthews, and Angelia Hylton. The Taylor family has since channeled their grief into positive community action, establishing the nonprofit Ezra's Hands Outreach to empower young people and work towards preventing future gun violence.
