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DC Sniper Assistant Admits to Tucson Slaying

In 2002, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo stunned the United States into fear with a sniper-shooting spree in the District of Columbia area that left ten dead and three wounded over a three week period that October. But in March of that year, police in Tucson, Arizona dealt with a shooting similar to those which Muhammad and Malvo would carry out later. Following the capture of the D.C. Snipers, the Tucson Police Department suspected that Muhammad and Malvo had something to do with the death of Jerry Taylor, 60.

There was no definitive proof until earlier this year, when Cheryll Witz, daughter of Taylor, wrote a letter to Lee Boyd Malvo in prison asking him if he and John Allen Muhammad were responsible for her father?s death, and if so to admit to the killings so that the Taylor family could gain some closure. Malvo, apparently full of remorse, admitted to the killing. When the D.C. (aka Beltway) Snipers were caught, Malvo had said that he had shot a senator in Tucson ? though Taylor was not a senator.

Jerry Taylor was shot on March 19, 2002 as he retrieved a ball on a golf course. Malvo and Muhammad had been in the Tucson area visiting Muhammad?s sister, and decided to shoot someone at random. Malvo, serving a life term, has since his confession stated that if Arizona authorities bring charges against Muhammad ? who is already on death row ? he will testify against his former sniping partner.