BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge Police officers have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with a shooting inside a McDonald’s over the weekend. UWK has learned that the suspect was already out on bond for a previous homicide charge.
Baton Rouge Police’s VCAT division and U.S. Marshal’s Task Force arrested Sakyron Taylor on Wednesday, May 28, in connection with the shooting that happened around 12:45 p.m. on May 24 at the McDonald’s on S. Sherwood Forest Blvd. near Boardwalk Dr.
According to officials, Taylor and the victim got into an argument inside the restaurant. Police say Taylor then went to a vehicle, allegedly retrieved a gun, returned inside, and is accused of shooting the victim.
The victim was shot in the stomach and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Taylor is now charged with attempted second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon and aggravated criminal damage to property for the McDonald’s shooting.
Out on bond for homicide charge
UWK has learned Taylor was previously arrested in September 2024 in connection to a similar incident, a fight that escalated into gunfire.
That earlier shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. on August 29, 2024, at Uncle Moe’s Food Mart & Deli on Plank Rd. near Hollywood St. In that case, Taylor allegedly retrieved a gun from a vehicle and opened fire on 22-year-old Martelle Hamilton, who was shot multiple times and died at the scene.
Taylor was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and illegal use of weapons following the fatal shooting.
On September 20, 2024, Taylor appeared before 19th JDC Commissioner Kory Tauzin, who set his bond at $275,000. Conditions of the bond included homebound monitoring for a period to be determined and compliance monitoring upon release. Taylor was also placed under an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was not ordered to wear an ankle monitor. Instead, he was on what’s referred to as a “shadow track.”
In February 2025, an East Baton Rouge Parish Grand Jury indicted Taylor for second-degree murder in the Uncle Moe’s case.
Just two days before the McDonald’s shooting in Baton Rouge, on May 21, 2025, a compliance report was submitted to Judge Jewel Welch, who is serving as the interim judge for embattled Judge Eboni Johnson Rose. The report indicated Taylor was compliant with his monitoring requirements.
Taylor is scheduled to appear before Johnson Rose in August for a motions hearing related to the Uncle Moe’s case.
A background check shows Taylor has multiple prior arrests dating back to 2019, when he turned 18. His record includes charges related to drugs, traffic violations, and a 2020 arrest for simple burglary.
District Attorney Hillar Moore tells UWK, “We’re going to ask for all his reports and records from the monitoring company. We are already in the process of asking for his bond to be revoked and him for to be held.”
The case underscores growing concerns about repeat violent offenders being released on bond and committing new crimes while awaiting trial. Mayor-President Sid Edwards has made reducing violent crime a top priority of his administration, specifically pointing to the need for stricter accountability and reform in how the criminal justice system handles individuals with a pattern of violence. A sentiment echoed by Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse.
“Of course, this is frustrating, when it seems like our officers have to keep arresting some individuals multiple times,” Morse said. “I think suspects we arrest for crimes as serious as homicide should have higher bonds and more supervision when they are out on those bonds.”
Chief Morse added, “I’m extremely proud of my officers, who are being asked to do more with less right now, due to manpower shortages and a reduced overtime budget.
In recent interviews with UWK and UWK’s podcast Louisiana Unfiltered, Edwards has emphasized closing loopholes that allow high-risk offenders back on the streets and strengthening partnerships between law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges.
MORE: Sid Edwards says Baton Rouge isn’t safe yet. But after 100 days in office, he has a game plan
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