PALM BAY, Fla. – A 26-year-old man in Palm Bay, Florida, has been indicted by a Brevard grand jury for fatally shooting his mother, sister, and grandfather, and wounding two others, including his 15-year-old nephew. The indictment sets the stage for the state attorney’s office to consider pursuing the death penalty in the case, while questions about the shooter’s mental competency linger.
Ta’Shawn Taylor faces three counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the Jan. 20 shooting deaths of Lisa Suglam, 31, Angella Suglam, 60, and Stephen Suglam, 79, in the family’s Palm Bay home. In addition, he has been charged with two counts of attempted murder in the shootings of Kamauri Curry, 15, and Gary Taylor, 59. Taylor was scheduled to go before a Brevard County Court judge for a first appearance on the formal charges. He has been assigned a public defender and remains on a no-bond status at the Brevard County Jail Complex.
Kamauri, who was shot in the head, is moving towards recovery and is expected to undergo extensive physical therapy during his recuperation, according to family members and friends. The shooting occurred on Jan. 20 at Woodlake Village Apartments. Armed with a laser-scoped handgun, Taylor entered a bedroom where his mother and two grandchildren, including Kamauri, were present. He fired multiple rounds, hitting his mother and then Kamauri. A 10-year-old managed to hide beneath the bedframe while Taylor continued the shooting spree, resulting in the deaths of his grandfather and sister.
The deadly incident was the third involving three or more homicides to take place in Brevard County since the beginning of 2023. This pattern of multiple homicides within a short period is deeply concerning and underscores the urgency of addressing mental health issues and gun violence in Palm Bay and beyond.
In another instance, a week after the Jan. 20 shootings, another incident involving multiple homicides occurred when Brandon Kapas shot and wounded two Palm Bay police officers after family members called for help. Police were forced to shoot and kill Kapas following a shootout. The series of violent events within such a short timeframe has raised alarms about the need for effective strategies to prevent such tragic outcomes.
These incidents highlight the urgency of addressing mental health issues and gun violence not only in Palm Bay but across the nation, underlining the need for holistic approaches to prevent similar tragedies in the future.