Nola Reporter

On June 20, 2024, Blair Taylor, a New Orleans resident, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of causing 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 trial evidence, Taylor killed two individuals on August 10, 2014, in what has been referred to as the "Burgundy Massacre." One of the victims was a sixteen-year-old girl. Five others were seriously injured in the incident, including a two-year-old child and a four-year-old child. Taylor and two accomplices went to Burgundy Street to retaliate against a narcotics dealer who had stolen drugs from the mother of one of Taylor’s co-conspirators. Upon arrival, Taylor opened fire on the crowd with a rifle despite the presence of several young children. One co-conspirator approached and shot their intended target.

On February 2, 2017, Taylor and an accomplice were initially found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and five counts of attempted second-degree murder after an 11-1 jury verdict. However, in 2021 they were granted new trials following a United States Supreme Court ruling that non-unanimous jury votes were unconstitutional. In October 2022, Louisiana re-tried Taylor and he was found not guilty; he was released from jail in March 2023.

Following this state acquittal, a federal grand jury investigated the homicides and indicted Taylor for those murders.

For each count against him now at the federal level, Taylor faces up to life imprisonment, fines up to $250,000 per count, up to five years supervised release per count and mandatory special assessment fees totaling $100 per count. Sentencing is scheduled for October 3, 2024.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy under PSN on May 26, 2021.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution team includes Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich; Unit Chief Attorney Elizabeth Privitera; and Special Assistant United States Attorney James Ollinger from the Violent Crime Unit.