Co-Worker Charged with Murder in Fatal Dorchester Shooting

BOSTON, July 31, 2014—A Hyde Park man was held without bail on a murder charge today following his arrest for allegedly shooting his co-worker, 23-year-old Daniel P. Taylor, to death in Dorchester earlier this year, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

MARQUIS SMITH (D.O.B. 9/27/90) was formally charged in South Boston Municipal Court today with Taylor’s Feb. 23 homicide near the intersection of Boston and Howell streets. Boston Police homicide detectives arrested him yesterday afternoon at the Boston valet service where he and Taylor both worked.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman of the DA’s Homicide Unit told Judge Michael Bolden that the defendant and victim both attended a work-related social event in downtown Boston on the night of Feb. 22. They left the event together with Taylor driving a family member’s vehicle.

While driving through Dorchester, Smith and Taylor became engaged in an argument, prosecutors say. This came to a head in the area of Boston and Howell streets, where Taylor exited the vehicle and pulled Smith from the passenger’s side. Their verbal argument became a physical confrontation. At some point, prosecutors say, Smith produced a firearm and shot Taylor repeatedly before fleeing on foot in the direction of Andrew station.

Taylor died of his injuries at Boston Medical Center. Boston Police homicide detectives collected evidence at the scene and conducted numerous interviews in the days and weeks that followed, while prosecutors subpoenaed records and witnesses to the Suffolk County Grand Jury. By yesterday, they had developed sufficient evidence to charge Smith, but their efforts are still ongoing and anyone with information on the shooting may contact investigators at 617-343-4700.

Smith is represented by attorney Robert Sheketoff. He will return to court on Sept. 18.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.