Aurora man gets 40 years for 2009 shooting spree

A felon who authorities accused of going on a shooting spree throughout Aurora in late 2009 was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison on weapons charges.

In June, a federal jury convicted 31-year-old Michael Taylor, of Aurora, on allegations of being in possession of a firearm while having a previous felony conviction.

Taylor, who authorities said has a long criminal record that includes other weapons offenses, was facing a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life behind bars.

He was arrested in December 2009 following four separate shootings over a four-day period in Aurora. Court documents describe him as a gang member.

“It’s a miracle that nobody was hurt in these shootings,” said U.S. District Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Federal officials said the shooting spree began Nov. 28, 2009, during a house party just west of downtown Aurora when Taylor fired a handgun as a fight broke out. Later in the evening, Taylor fired into an Aurora apartment complex as he and others searched for rival gang members. Even later, authorities said, Taylor headed south of downtown and shot at homes where he believed rival gang members lived.

On Dec. 1, 2009, prosecutors said, Taylor again went after rival gang members believing they had fired shots at a relative’s house.

Prosecutors said that while driving through a residential area in southeast Aurora he shot at a vehicle he believed was occupied by rival gang members. A woman walking her dog saw the shooting and took cover to avoid being shot. Several homes were struck by stray bullets, prosecutors said.

Police tracked Taylor to a relative’s home and he was arrested trying to flee. Police recovered the weapon Taylor was accused of using, plus two others guns.

At trial, a witness testified about the shootings and a forensic expert said gunshot residue was found on Taylor’s hand after his arrest. Another forensic expert connected shell casings found at the shootings to the gun Taylor tried to discard when attempting to elude capture.

Randall Samborn, a spokesman for Fitzgerald’s office, said the case was handed over to federal prosecutors by county authorities because Taylor qualified as “an armed career criminal” and faced stiffer penalties in the federal system.

Taylor must serve at least 34 years before he is eligible for parole, Samborn said.