Prison sentence: 83 years to life for deadly Modesto shooting

Sir Jay Taylor left behind a grieving family still agonizing over his death three years later. But they said in court Friday afternoon they’re satisfied that justice was served.

Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Thomas Zeff on Friday sentenced Justin Anthony Banks, 32, to 83 years to life in prison for shooting Taylor in broad daylight outside a west Modesto home. A jury June 17 found Banks guilty of first-degree murder in Taylor’s death.

The judge gave Taylor’s family a chance to speak in court Friday before he sentenced Banks. The mood was very tense for those in the courtroom during the hourlong hearing.

About a dozen Stanislaus County sheriff’s officials provided security in the courtroom and the courthouse hallway as a precaution after confrontations between the families of the defendant and victim throughout the trial.

There also was a large Modesto police presence to prevent any confrontations outside the courthouse. Patrol cars were on 11th Street, between H and I streets, as officers made sure the families left the area. Other officers blocked a portion of 12th Street, just east of the courthouse. There were no confrontations inside or outside the courthouse.

Phyllis Talton, Taylor’s mother, said her son was executed in broad daylight. She said Taylor shot her son, walked away and returned to pick up a burning cigarette off the ground to smoke while firing more shots at the injured man.

“He made an at-will decision to kill my son,” she said about Banks, who was sitting next to his attorney several feet away.

Banks spoke in court briefly during Friday’s hearing. He said he didn’t receive a fair trial and will appeal the verdict. “See you guys in a couple of years,” he said.

Taylor, 25, was shot May 30, 2013, on Maple Street. Police have said the defendant and the victim knew each other.

Details revealed in court indicated that there was an ongoing feud between Banks and Taylor, after Taylor recorded a rap song that included disparaging comments about the defendant.

The prosecution said Banks and Taylor were among a group of about five people standing outside a home on Maple Street. About 2 p.m., Banks pulled out a gun and fired one shot at Taylor.

His family said Banks walked away and returned to fire more shots at Taylor’s head. The victim’s family said they prayed for his survival for about 12 more hours at a local hospital before his heart stopped beating.

Latrisha Taylor, the victim’s sister, thanked the police officer who was the first to arrive and tried to revive her brother. She said everyone else who was around her brother when the shooting occurred just left him alone dying in the street.

Deputy District Attorney Jared Carrillo, who prosecuted the case, said Modesto police Officer John McGill was the first at the scene and initially assessed the victim, and Officer Jonathan Griffith performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived.

Taylor’s sister said her family has suffered from this killing, and she’s sure the defendant’s family has also suffered. “This was all caused by one person,” she said.

Anthony Talton, Taylor’s father, said Banks will be leaving his family behind to spend the rest of his life in a prison cell and being told when to eat. He said the defendant has shown no remorse in court.

“He’s an assassin. He’s a vile person,” the father said about the defendant.

Monique Moore, Taylor’s fiancée, said they had a daughter together. She said she struggles to explain to her daughter that her father will no longer be with them.

“He was loved by everyone who knew him. ... We planned to live the rest of our lives together,” Moore told the judge.

Zeff said he did not have a lot of discretion in Banks’ sentencing, which is limited by statute. But the judge said the sentence he handed down was the maximum under the law.

Banks was on post-release community supervision for a previous conviction when he shot Taylor. The judge said the defendant has an extensive criminal history that showed an escalating level of violence, and that there were no mitigating circumstances to warrant leniency for Banks, “absolutely none.”

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 6:01 PM with the headline "Prison sentence: 83 years to life for deadly Modesto shooting."