Chester man pleads to 2020 shooting death

Media Courthouse — A 20-year-old Chester man was sentenced Monday to 18 to 45 years in state prison after pleading guilty to the shooting death of Wynear Taylor, 21 years, in September 2020.

Amir H. Taft, who was 16 at the time, entered a plea bargain before Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony Scanlon to third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit third-degree murder and possession of a firearm without a license.

Taft also pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault in an October assault on another inmate at the Delaware County jail, George W. Hill Correctional Center. He was sentenced to a concurrent term of 5 to 10 years in prison in that case under the negotiated guilty plea worked out by Assistant District Attorney Gina Gorbey and defense attorney Clinton Johnson.

Taft was charged as an adult for the shooting that occurred on the afternoon of September 26, 2020, in the area of ​​Seventh Street and Highland Avenue. Co-defendant Zaheem J. Allen, who was 18 at the time, was also charged with murder.

Chester officers responded to the scene after receiving a report of shots fired around 4:17 p.m. and found Taylor inside a red and white Nissan Maxima, apparently unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. ball.

Paramedics pronounced Taylor dead at the scene. Officers recovered eight fired 9mm shell casings in the area, according to police. Chester Detective David DeFrank and County Detective David Tyler identified Allen and Taft as suspects following an investigation.

Allen, represented by defense attorney Kevin O'Neill, entered an open guilty plea to third-degree murder and conspiracy in April. He was scheduled to testify at Taft's trial, scheduled for this week.

Allen instead withdrew his plea and is now scheduled to hold his own trial before Scanlon on September 16. Gorbey is also pursuing this case.

Johnson told the judge Monday that although his client is now 20 years old, he was a teenager at the time of the shooting and therefore lacked the mental capacity to appreciate the consequences of his actions, as the court recognized Supreme Court of the United States.

But Johnson said that aside from the immaturity that all 16-year-olds show, Taft is a good person and he hopes he gets the rehabilitation he needs while incarcerated.

Taft also issued a brief statement in which he apologized to Taylor's family and claimed he was the sole actor in both cases.

A probable cause affidavit for the October prison attack, however, says numerous other inmates facing serious charges were seen on surveillance video participating in the assault.

They are Saddiq Washington, accused of the road rage murder of King Hua, 54, in June 2022; Ahshir Javone Lloyd, charged with the murder of Mekhi Harrison, 18, in January 2023; Kyree Washington, one of three men accused of fatally shooting 23-year-old Randy Maultsby in February 2020; and Jahsere Cruz, charged in the February 2022 shooting death of 15-year-old Nasir Golatt.

The altercation began when Taft and victim Kareem Handy, facing his own attempted murder charges, got into an argument. Taft could then be seen regrouping with the other inmates before they confronted Handy in a cell, beating and stabbing him. Taft could be seen holding a makeshift knife in the video. Handy survived the attack but refused to identify his attackers.

Gorbey focused on the homicide in her comments, noting that although Taylor was sentenced to death, Taft will one day be able to return home and see his family again.

“To call it a tragedy is not enough,” Gorbey said. “I know we've heard a lot about Amir Taft being a youngster, but the victim – Wynear Taylor – in this case was only 19 years old. He was the victim of a drive-by shooting, the kind that destroyed this community, the community of Chester, not to mention both families, and that's what we see here today.

Gorbey said Taylor's family did not agree with the sentence and was still too overcome with grief and pain to speak at Monday's hearing because her death had devastated them and they would continue to suffer for the rest of their lives.

Scanlon also commented on the resolution of the case.

“Your victim was 19,” he said. “You go to SCI. Your victim… is in the cemetery. You will come out of SCI. Your victim will still be in the cemetery.”

Scanlon added that if Taft had been found guilty at trial, he would not have been lenient in his sentencing.

In addition to the prison sentence, Taft will have to provide a DNA sample to state police. He is not eligible for early release, but was given credit for time served beginning Jan. 5, 2021, and will be required to serve one year of re-entry probation.