Driver Who Crashed During a Police Chase Gets 12 Year Prison Sentence Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia Dateline: Washington, D.C. Date: 6 March 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

Defendant Severely Injured Another Driver While Speeding Away From Police

            WASHINGTON – Shaquille Taylor, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 12 years in prison, yesterday, for causing near-fatal injuries to another motorist in May 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Michael Buck of the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division (USSS), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

            A Superior Court jury convicted Taylor, in November 2023, of aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, fleeing a law enforcement officer, and destruction of property. According to the government’s evidence, a USSS officer had initiated a traffic stop of Taylor, near 17th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW, at approximately 2:00 AM on May 6, 2022. Taylor had initially complied with the stop and started to get out of his car, but then got back in the car and drove off at a high rate of speed. As he did so, Taylor ran a red light at 12th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW, travelling just under 100 MPH, and crashed into the victim’s car. As a result of the crash, the victim sustained near-fatal injuries and spent weeks on a ventilator. As a result, the victim will suffer chronic pain for the rest of his life. Taylor sustained a broken arm and leg. Police officers later recovered a firearm from Taylor’s car.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Buck, and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division and the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Antoinette Sakamsa, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Renee Prather, Victim Witness Service Coordinator Maenylie Watson, Victim Witness Program Specialist Lakeisha McFall, Supervisory IT Specialist Leif Hickling, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen Houck and Jamie Carter who assisted with the investigation of the matter.

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Bartz and Benjamin Helfand, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Updated March 6, 2024

Press Release Number: 24-220