BOSTON, Jan. 15, 2012—Twenty-eight-year-old Shawn Ray Taylor was unarmed when he was shot dead in the course of a physical altercation last month, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

Taylor’s alleged killer, ANDREW BRITT (D.O.B. 3/24/94) of Dorchester, was arraigned in Roxbury District Court today on charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with Taylor’s Dec. 11, 2012, shooting death at 37 Copeland St. At the request of Assistant District Attorney Masai King, Judge Kenneth Fiandaca ordered Britt held without bail.

King told the court that neither Britt nor Taylor lived at the Copeland Street residence but were present there with several female friends when Taylor began to argue with a female friend. That argument became physical, at which point Britt intervened.

In the moments that followed, Taylor and Britt became involved in a fistfight. That fight continued until witnesses heard a “pop” that investigators believe was the sound of Britt’s handgun being fired. Taylor fell to the ground with a fatal gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

Prosecutors say Taylor was unarmed throughout the encounter and that witnesses observed Britt holding a gun before he fled.

Witnesses identified Britt only by his nickname, “Bubba,” that morning but were later able to pick him out of a photo array presented by Boston Police. Homicide detectives had been searching for Britt since that time and, based on additional information received in the past 48 hours, took him into custody last night.

Britt is represented by attorney Thomas Ford. He will return to court on Feb. 14.

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