Annapolis, MD – The third and final suspect in the 2021 killing of 22-year-old Cornell Young in Annapolis was sentenced to life in prison for felony first-degree murder, robbery, and weapons offenses, State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess announced.
“Mr. Young was lured to a parking lot and killed by gunfire in broad daylight during a brazen robbery attempt,” Leitess said. “Today’s sentence shows that we will not allow gun violence to be normalized in our community.”
Taylor is the last of three men convicted and sentenced for the killing. Kenon Jackson, 22, previously entered an Alford plea to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Jaonte Coates, 33, followed with an identical plea and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
On October 14, 2021, Young and a friend drove from Baltimore to a parking lot on Pleasant Street in Annapolis around 1 p.m. and met with Jackson. Shortly after parking, Taylor emerged from a waiting vehicle and pointed a gun at the men. Jackson snatched the friend’s backpack and rummaged through Young’s car, with Coates assisting him.
While those two men combed through his vehicle, Young wrestled with Taylor in an attempt to disarm him. Young was shot multiple times in the struggle and later died of his injuries. His death came just one day after his 22nd birthday. Young’s friend was unharmed.
The encounter was captured on security cameras. Police recognized Taylor from the footage, one testifying that he had known Taylor while he was growing up in the Annapolis area. In addition, Taylor left his cell phone behind at the scene. Investigation revealed that Taylor went to an AT&T store following the crime and purchased a SIM card for the phone number matching the phone left behind.
Taylor was arrested and remained jailed without bond.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Jason Steinhardt and Brian Pritchard prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.
The Honorable J. Michael Wachs presided over the case.