Blair Taylor Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for the Murder of Two People

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - On October 3, 2024, BLAIR TAYLOR ("TAYLOR"),a New Orleans resident,was sentenced after being found guilty by a federal jury of two-counts of causing a death through the use of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(j)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

According to the trial evidence, TAYLORkilled two individuals on August 10, 2014, in what was called the "Burgundy Massacre." One of the homicide victims killed by TAYLOR was a sixteen-year-old girl. Five other people were shot and seriously injured, including a 2-year-old child and a 4-year-old child. TAYLOR and two other individuals went to Burgundy Street in New Orleans to retaliate against a narcotics dealer who had stolen drugs from the mother of one of TAYLOR's co-conspirators. When they arrived, TAYLOR, who possessed a rifle, opened fire on the crowd, despite several young children being outside. One of his accomplices approached the intended target and shot and killed him.

On February 2, 2017, TAYLOR and his accomplice were found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and five counts of attempted second-degree murder after the jury returned an 11-1 verdict of guilty on all counts. However, in 2021 they were granted new trials after the United States Supreme Court found ruled non-unanimous jury verdicts unconstitutional. In October of 2022 the State of Louisiana retried TAYLOR and he was found not guilty. He was subsequently released from jail in March 2023.

Following that not guilty verdict, a federal grand jury conducted an investigation and indicted TAYLOR,for the two murders.

After a three (3) day trial, the jury found TAYLOR guilty of causing the death of both victims through the use of a firearm. As to each count of murder, TAYLOR was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich, Unit Chief Elizabeth Privitera and Special Assistant United States Attorney James Ollinger, all from the Violent Crime Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.