In the late summer of 2016, the life of 23-year-old Mack H. Taylor of Indianapolis, Indiana, was tragically cut short. On September 14th, he and his close friend, 24-year-old Alexander Brown, were discovered deceased in an alley in the 2900 block of North Gladstone Avenue. The grim discovery was made after police were initially called to a nearby residence on the 3000 block of Gladstone Avenue around 11 a.m. for a report of blood found inside. While they didn't find any victims at that location, the scene suggested a violent crime had occurred. A subsequent canvass of the area led officers to the bodies of Taylor and Brown just before 1:30 p.m.
The investigation into the double homicide immediately drew significant police resources to the northeast side neighborhood. Dozens of officers and detectives descended upon the area, securing a second potential crime scene in the 2900 block of Colorado Avenue that was believed to be linked to the murders. The case gained further attention due to Mack Taylor's association with Richard Grundy III, the reputed leader of a local gang. An attorney for Grundy stated that his client was distraught over Taylor's death, describing their relationship as being 'like a brother.'
In the days following the discovery of the bodies, a potential break in the case seemed to emerge. Four individuals were arrested for breaking into a house that investigators believed was connected to the double homicide. However, information regarding whether these individuals were ever formally charged with or convicted of the murders of Mack Taylor and Alexander Brown has not been made publicly available.
The investigation into the deaths of the two young men was complex, and authorities appealed to the public for assistance. City leaders emphasized the need for community members to come forward with any information that could lead to the apprehension of those responsible. Despite the initial arrests and the established connections to other criminal elements in the city, the case of Mack H. Taylor and Alexander Brown's murders has since gone cold, with no publicly announced suspects or convictions in the years that have followed. The loss was deeply felt by Taylor's family, including his grandmother and his young son, Mack Jr., who was only three years old at the time of his father's death.
