Officers responded at 2:21 a.m. to a call from an employee at Salem's about a large crowd gathered in the parking lot, police said. Officers attempted to clear the parking lot when Officer Raj Patel noticed a black Chevrolet Camaro that fit the description of a vehicle stolen from Winter Haven. As multiple officers approached the vehicle, the driver, Michael Jerome Taylor, allegedly attempted to flee. Officer Markais Neal and two other officers shot and killed Taylor as he reportedly accelerated through the parking lot, striking several vehicles and a utility pole.
Victim's Name: Michael Jerome Taylor
Agency Responsible: Lakeland Police Department
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Race: Black
Date of Death: December 26, 2018
County: Polk
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Pending investigation/No Known Charges
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: No
Armed: Vehicle
Weapon: vehicle
Threat Level: attack
Fleeing: Car
Body Camera: No
Washington Post Database ID: 4322
Geography: Suburban