New Orleans, Louisiana - A federal court has sentenced Blair Taylor, a New Orleans resident, to life imprisonment for his role in the 2014 Burgundy Massacre. The incident left two individuals dead and five others seriously injured, including two young children.
According to the trial evidence, on August 10, 2014, Taylor and two accomplices 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. Upon arrival, Taylor opened fire on the crowd with a rifle, despite the presence of several young children. One of his accomplices approached the intended target and shot and killed him.
The case initially went to trial in 2017, where Taylor and his accomplice were found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and five counts of attempted second-degree murder. However, in 2021, the United States Supreme Court ruled that non-unanimous jury verdicts were unconstitutional, and Taylor was granted a new trial. In 2022, the State of Louisiana retried Taylor, and he was found not guilty. He was subsequently released from jail in March 2023.
Following the not guilty verdict, a federal grand jury conducted an investigation and indicted Taylor for the two murders. After a three-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 is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve. The program focuses on fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, and setting strategic enforcement priorities.
The investigation was conducted 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, prosecuted the case.