BROOKLYN, Md. — An arrest in the case of a Brooklyn father beaten to death in front of his home.
Trevor Garrett Taylor, 26, faces manslaughter and assault charges for his alleged role in Christopher Wright's death.
It all started May 19 following a school fight between Wright's 14-year-old son and Taylor's nephew.
Taylor and his nephew, along with three other people, came to Wright's home to confront his son.
According to charging documents, Taylor threatened Wright as he was outside gardening demanding that he allow both teenagers to finish the fight.
Wright, apparently unaware of what Taylor was talking about, went inside the house to speak with his son who told him what happened.
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Things continued to escalate from there. As Taylor's threats intensified, Wright allegedly punched him in the face and then tried backing away.
“Adults from one side went to the child’s house on the other side and that’s when this altercation started, first verbally, and then obviously a physical altercation ensued between the adults later,” said Anne Arundel County Police Lt. Jacklyn Davis.
Taylor chased after Wright sparking a brawl that poured onto the sidewalk and into the street.
At some point Taylor used a double-leg take down, causing Wright's head to slam against the pavement.
The attack, however, didn't stop there. Police say Taylor punched Wright four more times in the head before fleeing the scene.
The medical examiner's office eventually ruled Wright's death homicide by blunt force trauma.
They concluded the impact from the fall is what ultimately caused Wright's death, not the follow-up punches.
“What detectives found was that the decedent in this case did throw the first physical punch in this altercation so there was a lot of debate around the duty to retreat versus self defense and everything that goes into a case that’s this involved,” said Davis.
A judge on Wednesday ordered Taylor to be held without bail.
As for the others who accompanied him to Wright's house that day, police say none of them were directly involved in the assault.
Wright's family issued a statement following news of Taylor's arrest.
Although I am relieved that there has been progress in the investigation, we do not feel any relief in the grief that we have for the loss of Chris. We grieve now all of the things that Chris will not be a part of. First days, last days, football games, graduations, and weddings. This is still the beginning of a long journey. Nothing that happens from this day forward can bring back Chris, and nothing can change what happened. As we navigate how to live life without a father, a partner, and a friend, we are continuously grateful for the support from family, friends, and the community.
