What did Jesse Taylor Jr do? Charges explored as teenager sentenced to life in prison over North Dakota motel murder

Jesse Taylor Jr, a 17-year-old from Mandan, North Dakota, has been found guilty of fatally shooting Maurice Thunder Shield, a 28-year-old man from McLaughlin, South Dakota, at a north Bismarck motel. The incident, which took place on September 23, 2022, also involved Taylor allegedly wounding a motel worker.

It was revealed that Taylor and Thunder Shield were acquainted, according to police statements.

The jury's decision, rendered after approximately 2 ½ hours of deliberations over two days in South Central District Court in Bismarck, could lead to a life sentence without parole for Taylor Jr. Sentencing details remain pending, as Judge James Hill has ordered a presentence investigation.

In addition to the murder charge, Taylor Jr. faced an aggravated assault accusation for allegedly shooting and injuring a motel worker during the same incident. On Wednesday, he was convicted of this charge which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Jesse Taylor Jr.'s murder trial takes a turn from Juvenile to Adult Court

The judicial referee overseeing Jesse Taylor Jr.'s case decided to transfer it from juvenile to adult court. This decision was based on Taylor's history of non-compliance with probation and admission to committing offenses while under supervision.

During the closing arguments presented on Tuesday, attorneys for both Taylor and the state summarized over a week's worth of evidence and testimony.

Defense attorney Phillip Becher contended that Taylor acted in self-defense following a verbal altercation with Maurice Thunder Shield at Motel 6.

Prosecutor Dennis Ingold, however, rebutted Becher's claim, asserting that self-defense had no legal basis in this case.

Ingold pointed out a crucial legal requirement, stating:

"Before using deadly force, an individual is required to retreat. He could have, and he should have."

Prosecutor Dennis Ingold presented jurors with surveillance footage from the motel, shedding light on the night Jesse Taylor Jr. fired five shots from a semi-automatic pistol, leading to the death of Maurice Thunder Shield and the injury of motel employee Frederick Loewy.

Defense attorney Phillip Becher countered Ingold's narrative, asserting that Thunder Shield's menacing behavior justified Jesse Taylor Jr's use of deadly force.

Becher repeatedly referenced Thunder Shield's size advantage over Taylor and cited threatening comments such as "I'm gonna beat (you)" as contributing factors that led Taylor to fear physical harm.

Becher staunchly maintained the position that this is a self-defense case, arguing, "Jesse was justified in his actions." According to Becher, Taylor only fired the weapon when Thunder Shield came downstairs to confront him again after Taylor had briefly left the motel's first floor.

However, Ingold contended that Taylor's firing of multiple rounds over several seconds indicated an intention to kill Thunder Shield. Out of the five rounds fired, four struck Thunder Shield, leading to his death, while the fifth hit motel employee Frederick Loewy, causing injury.

It was revealed that following the fatal shooting at the North Dakota motel, Jesse Taylor Jr fled the scene on foot. He was apprehended later that evening in Warren, Minnesota. The firearm used in the incident was subsequently recovered by a resident in Bismarck's Jaycee Centennial Park.

Prosecutor Dennis Ingold, addressing jurors, emphasized that despite any animosity between Taylor and Maurice Thunder Shield, Taylor had the option to retreat from the confrontation. Ingold asserted,

"Clearly there was some animosity between these two, but Jesse could have retreated. But he didn't. You must find him guilty."

The jury, faced with the weighty decision, chose to convict Jesse Taylor Jr on the murder charge, opting against the lesser alternatives of manslaughter or negligent homicide.

Jesse Taylor Jr. sentenced to prison

Concluding the trial, State District Court Judge James Hill affirmed the jury's verdict against Jesse Taylor Jr., who was 16 at the time of the fatal shooting of Maurice Thunder Shield, 28, of McLaughlin, South Dakota. The judge expressed,

"You were a child who used a 9 mm firearm to put five bullets into another human being."

Taylor chose not to speak during his sentencing.

The judge's decision means Jesse Taylor Jr will be eligible to have his sentence reduced after serving 20 years, considering his status as a juvenile at the time of the crime.

However, parole eligibility will only be considered after approximately 55 years of imprisonment.

In addition to the murder conviction, Taylor was found guilty of aggravated assault for allegedly wounding a motel worker during the shooting. He received a concurrent five-year sentence for that offense.

As Taylor was escorted from the building, the echoing words of support from family members could be heard, saying,

"We love you, baby, You got this."