Homicide Report > Nathen Taylor, 26 [Update]
Nathen Taylor, 26 [Update]
Died April 21, 2012
Nathen Taylor, a 26-year-old black man, was fatally shot Saturday, April 21, in the 700 block of West Avenue H in Lancaster, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Taylor was shot about 12:10 a.m. as he sat in the driver's seat of a car parked in front of a house, said L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy Guillermina Saldana.
While Taylor was in the vehicle, several men walked up to the car, one "fired several rounds," and the victim was "fatally shot in the upper torso," said Saldana.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. No one else was in the car.
Taylor’s friends and family told KTLA-TV that Taylor was an Army veteran and father who survived three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was a student at Antelope Valley College and was not involved in gangs.
"He didn't gang-bang or anything," said Jack Garcia, a family friend. "He was a role model."
"That's why I think it was a case of mistaken identity or something," Garcia added. "No one knows why."
Anyone with details about the killing is asked to call the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
[Updated May 29: $20,000 reward offered in slaying of ex-Army sergeant in Lancaster]
—Stephen Ceasar and Kenneth R. Weiss
- Neighborhood: Lancaster
- Age: 26
- Gender: Male
- Cause: Gunshot
- Day of the week: Saturday
- Agency: LASD Homicide
- Race/Ethnicity: Black
- Circumstance: Walk-up
- Crime scene: Parked vehicle
Three reader comments about Nathen Taylor
I recently learned of Nathen Taylor’s tragic & untimely death. Words are not enough to express my sympathies at a time like this; I have nothing but great memories of Nathen, we were stationed together at Ft. Campbell & deployed together to Iraq. Nathen was well-respected and everybody had good things to say about him. The reality is that it had been a long time since I last saw Nathen & I’m deeply saddened that I will not get another chance to see him again. I want his family to know that I extend my deepest condolences & may God give them peace during this very difficult time. Rest In Peace Nathen C. Taylor, my long lost friend.
May 12, 2012 at 9:50 a.m.
Go fight for your country and survive then come home to die. It's just not right. When will the violence on the streets of LA ever end. This is just violence in the name of evil.
May 14, 2012 at 11:03 a.m.
what a sad story. Too many criminals and guns on the street.
May 30, 2012 at 12:13 a.m.
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