Eric Taylor | Homicide Watch Chicago

One of two men charged with killing cabbie Edwin Obazuaye during robbery in 2013 gets 60 years

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 17:08:22 -0500

By LEEANN SHELTON
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Eric Taylor | Cook County sheriff's office

One of two men charged with the fatal shooting of cab driver Edwin Obazuaye during a 2013 robbery on the South Side has been sentenced to 60 years in prison.

Eric Taylor, 31, was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder on July 29 following a four-day jury trial, according to court records. Judge Vincent Gaughan sentenced him to a total of 60 years in prison at a hearing Friday, court records show.

Obazuaye picked up Taylor and co-defendant Gregory James at Taylor’s home in the 8500 block of South Parnell about 5:45 p.m. March 14, 2013, authorities said previously.

Gregory James | Cook County sheriff's office

When the men entered the cab, they demanded the driver’s possessions, police said. After traveling about a mile, at least one of the men opened fire near 91st and Lafayette.

Obazuaye was shot twice, and the men ran off with his cell phone, authorities said. The South Holland resident died four days later.

James is still awaiting trial and will next appear in court Oct. 23.

Gregory James charged with murder in 2013 shooting death of cab driver Edwin Obazuaye

Michael Lansu — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 18:30:05 -0500

Gregory James / Photo from Chicago Police

Gregory James is the second man to be charged with murder in the shooting death of a 48-year-old cab driver Edwin Obazuaye last year on the South Side.

James, 29 of the 6400 block of South Richmond Street, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of forcible murder, police said. Eric Taylor, 28, had previously been charged with murder.

Obazuaye had picked up James and Taylor in the 8500 block of South Parnell about 5:45 p.m. March 14, 2013, authorities said.

When the men entered the cab they demanded the driver’s possessions, police said. After traveling about a mile, at least one of the men opened fire near South Lafayette Avenue and West 91st Street.

Obazuaye was shot twice, and the men ran off with his cell phone, authorities said.

Obazuaye, of South Holland, died four days later, authorities said.

Taylor is being held without bond, while James is being held on $2 million bond.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

‘I didn’t raise him like that,’ says mom of man accused of killing cabbie

John Carpenter — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:34:50 -0500

Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - Friday, March 22, 2013

Author/Byline: RUMMANA HUSSAIN ; Criminal Courts

When Patricia Howard realized she was standing next to the cousin of the taxi driver her son is accused of fatally shooting, she looked him in the eye and repeatedly told him she was sorry.

“I didn’t raise him like that,” the mother of six said Friday in a trembling voice before the tall man gently hugged Howard. “This shouldn’t have happened.”

Howard and the mother of Eric Taylor’s 2-month-old baby said while Taylor isn’t an angel, they don’t think he is capable of pulling the trigger as Cook County prosecutors said he did on the night of the March 14.

But they do believe Taylor was “peer pressured” by another man, who Taylor’s girlfriend said is her relative.

Taylor was shot in the face when he was 15 and, as a result, has the mental capacity of child, the women said.

“This was not his idea. This wasn’t an idea he planned,” the girlfriend said after Taylor was ordered held without bail for Edwin Obazuaye ’s murder at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.

“He would never kill nobody.”

But assistant state’s attorney Melissa Samp said Taylor, 28, had summoned Obazuaye to his apartment in the 8500 block of South Parnell with the intention of robbing and shooting him.

Within minutes after entering Obazuaye ’s Ford Explorer taxi, Taylor and the other man demanded Obazuaye ’s money, Samp said.

Obazuaye refused, looking for a police officer when Taylor, sitting directly behind Obazuaye , allegedly pistol-whipped the cabbie and struck him in the head.

Taylor, currently on parole for a 2007 armed robbery and carjacking, then broke the driver’s side window and fired the gun through the driver’s seat, strikingObazuaye in the back, Samp said.

Obazuaye ’s car slowly rolled through the intersection of 91st and Lafayette before coming to a stop.

Taylor and the other man, who were unable to open the doors because the child locks were activated, crawled through the broken window of the car and fled, Samp said. Taylor allegedly still had the weapon in his hand.

As he was being rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Obazuaye , 48, told authorities he had been robbed in his taxi.

He suffered a heart attack and died four days later while being treated for his wound.

Taylor allegedly admitted to detectives his role in the murder. He also said he cut his hand while coming out of the cab and identified items that had been left in the rear seat of the taxi, Samp said.

Taylor, who was wearing a Yale jacket in court Friday, continually looked back at his family as prosecutors detailed the crime.

His girlfriend made a shape of a heart with her fingers through the glass.

Taylor is “not a bad person. He just got caught with the wrong person,” said the girlfriend, who didn’t want her name used.

“I’m confused. I’m hurt. It’s like a bad nightmare,” Howard said following Friday’s hearing.

Obazuaye ’s cousin refused comment.