Jury downgrades murder to manslaughter in Taylor trial

By Terry Murry on Friday, July 8th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories

WALLA WALLA – Stephen A. Taylor has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison in the shooting death of his father, Gerald Taylor. The shooting took place in January 2021 at a home on the 900 block of Stadium Way in Walla Walla.

A jury found Stephen A. Taylor not guilty of assault charges stemming from the same incident as well as not guilty for second-degree murder. Instead, jurors decided he was guilty of second-degree manslaughter of a family member with a firearm.

According to court documents, the shooting took place following an argument over Stephen Taylor’s parents wanting him out of the residence.

Gerald Taylor was a former instructor at Walla Walla High School and worked as the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps enlisted instructor and rifle marksmanship team coach for more than 20 years. A U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, he earned several Purple Hearts and other awards during his military service.