taylor.jpg
A murder charge has been filed against wannabe rap star Troy D. Sanders, who is suspected of killing another artist during a video shoot. (Image courtesy YouTube)

Accused killer raps about life in South Seattle

BY Brandi Kruse  on May 23, 2012 @ 4:23 pm (Updated: 6:39 pm - 5/23/12 )

A murder charge has been filed against an aspiring rap star suspected of killing another artist during a video shoot outside of a South Seattle fast food restaurant.

Troy D. Sanders, 26, who raps under the name "John Taylor" and goes by the nickname "Troy Boy" has been charged with second-degree murder in the May 16 shooting death of 31-year-old Courtney Taylor.

According to charging documents released Wednesday by the King County Prosecutor's Office, Sanders was filming a rap video in the parking lot of a Jack in the Box restaurant when he and Taylor got into an altercation over a necklace.

" ... the rapper (Sanders) then pulled out a large gun and shot the victim once," read court documents. "The victim fell to the ground ... the suspect then took his necklace back from the victim, stood over him as the victim was still down, and shot him once more."

Witnesses said that Sanders then fled the scene in a black Mercedes. His sister later told detectives that Sanders had confessed to his involvement in the murder, according to court documents.

Sanders, who appears to rap as part of a group called "TG206MM," remains at large. His rap music speaks to life in "South Seattle," drugs, money and women.

Prosecutors have requested that Sanders be held on $2 million bail upon his arrest.

Warning: Videos contain some graphic content

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (29)


  • Add A Comment

  • Daddy Dennis wrote...
    Um...
    May 23, 2012 4:53 pm
    Calling an accused man a "wannabe" is not good at all. It sounds like self-defense to me. But then again, the police probably know more.

    Innocent before proven guilty, anybody?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • skottedont wrote...
    Daddy Dennis are you serious?
    May 24, 2012 8:58 am
    The first shot could be considered self defense, but standing over a someone who's laying on the ground shot, and putting a bullet into them is called "execution".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    The ghetto culture is a direct result of liberalism.
    May 23, 2012 6:22 pm
    They are all victims, after all.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    mindless rants about liberlism...
    May 24, 2012 7:37 am
    are a true mark of out of touch ultra-conservatism that will keep the repbulicans out of office in the white house this year.

    ANYWAYS, about the ARTICLE: this kid is trash, as in, it's time to take OUT the trash. shooting TWICE over a necklace? what is this, compton in the late 1980's?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    "culture"
    May 24, 2012 7:44 am
    Really?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rastaj wrote...
    HAHAHAHAHhahahahaha
    May 24, 2012 11:35 am
    Another fine generalization about....guess what? Liberals....I find it rather hard to believe that you are a cop.....oh wait. It actually makes perfect sense...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Nothing is more cowardly than fighting over a necklace
    May 23, 2012 7:04 pm
    Ya Troy boy I is be talkin bout u
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    2nd degree murder?
    May 23, 2012 7:22 pm
    He may not have planned it, nor did he lay in wait, but if the second shot, after having time to think about it, was not "INTENDED" to kill him, what was it for?

    Yes, I realise that IS the definition of second degree murder, but how much time was there between shots? If he had time to think about it, and yet still shot him, couldn't a good prosecuter prove it was in the first degree?

    I know, I know. 2nd degree is the right charge. Just thinking out loud (sorry for that)........

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dizzle wrote...
    Soo p
    May 23, 2012 11:22 pm
    Good point, actually.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Dudes fighting over a necklace?
    May 23, 2012 11:47 pm
    I guess that explains the extra effort these people exert to try to appear "manly." And what better way to show that you are a real man than through recording song and dance or playing music at a loud volume in your car so that even if you can't make music you let the rest of us know you appreciate it. Please. Enjoy that pearl necklace you'll either give or receive in prison, "man."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    wow, yikes snout...
    May 24, 2012 8:03 am
    but, well put.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JMGilday wrote...
    stunning
    May 24, 2012 3:54 am
    stupidity
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    soon he will
    May 24, 2012 6:12 am
    be able to rap about life in a pound me in the *** prison.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Thanks Brandi
    May 24, 2012 8:56 am
    For giving this P O S some airtime....With any luck and of course with your help maybe this piece of filth can be a success.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JMGilday wrote...
    caravanb wrote...
    May 24, 2012 9:26 am
    Its too bad both of them weren't killed!

    Patience young grasshopper, the scumbag has a large caliber gun and is running like a scared little girl. He's been kind enough (read that: stupid enough) to mark himself with tats that clearly identify him to everyone around, he's pooping brinks at the thought of going inside the walls for 25-20 years AND the idiot has the common sense of a sewer rat (with apologies to sewer rats everywhere).

    Methinks this will end with him smoking his pistol.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • b1202 wrote...
    REVERSE LIGHTS
    May 24, 2012 9:40 am
    It sure looks like the Mercedes in the picture has reverse lights on. How awesome would it be in the driver punched the gas! on a side note: Im a white guy from the eastside, and I am 100% sure I could kick this guy's butt.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }