by Jerry Burke
As it turns out, Taylor met a similar fate last week outside a Greenboro, N.C., nightclub.
Police say Taylor, who witnesses at the Lakeview shooting identified as the gunman, fled the state soon after Roland was murdered following a series of verbal arguments that escalated into gunfire a little before 1 a.m. that July morning.
According to Greensboro Police, Taylor and a group of friends got into an argument in the parking lot of the Club Remix early in the morning on Sunday, Oct. 26. After a fight ensued, Taylor was shot in the back at about 3:30 a.m. as he and his group attempted to escape the scene by car. His friends drove him to the hospital, but he died in the emergency room at nearby Moses Cone Hospital at 4 a.m.
Taylor was positively identified two days later by his fingerprints, say police. Detectives in Greensboro are currently looking for the shooter.
Nassau police had been looking for Taylor since July, but were unable to locate him in the area. They suspected that he fled to either North Carolina or Florida, where he had relatives, and were working with other agencies in an effort to track him down. Nassau police officials say he had been using the name Christopher Caan during his flight from authorities.
According to Detective Lt. Dennis Farrell of the Homicide Squad, Roland was attending the July party on Melvin Avenue when he and three friends got into an argument with other attendees. "It is not clear whether or not Roland and his friends were even invited," said Farrell. "By the time we go to the scene, it was pretty chaotic; a lot of people were standing out in the street."
Farrell said Roland and his friends left the party a little before 1 a.m. and got into their 1992 Nissan, which was parked at the corner of Melvin Avenue and Janos Lane. The four were sitting in the car when the man police believe to be Taylor approached the vehicle. Another argument began and the shooter drew a handgun and opened fire on the front passenger side of the car, where Roland was sitting. "More words were apparently exchanged by the car," said Farrell. "That's when the suspect pulled out a 9-millimeter and shot at Roland numerous times."
As the suspect fired, police say Roland managed to exit the car and fell over, only to be shot again as he collapsed on the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene. None of the other occupants of the car was injured, leading police to believe that Roland was the specific target of the shooter. "There is no question he was the target," said Farrell. "The shooter had ample opportunity to fire on the other people in the car."
Residents along Melvin Avenue were hesitant to talk about the shooting. "It's just a senseless death," said one woman. "They carry these [guns] around with them and have no idea what damage it can cause."
Police are still unsure what precipitated the incident. The party, Farrell said, was attended by 30 to 50 people, some of whom were questioned at the scene. "We still are not sure why Roland was there or what exactly prompted the original argument," said Farrell, who also said the two knew each other prior to the shooting.
Police say Taylor's fingerprints were available because of a prior arrest for grand larceny and possession of a controlled substance. They consider the investigation into Roland's murder closed.
