THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Taylor was fatally stabbed on the evening of Sept. 12 in his apartment building in the Avondale neighborhood. According to the Chicago Police Department (CPD), officers were called to Taylor's apartment building in the 3000 block of North Elston Ave. at around 10:50 p.m. to respond to the stabbing in a second-floor apartment.

When 14th District officers arrived, they found the 28-year-old Taylor and his neighbor, who was later identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as 55-year-old James Traven, with multiple stab wounds. Traven was pronounced dead upon arrival at Illinois Masonic Hospital that night. Taylor was initially listed in critical condition when he was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital; however, after two days of surgeries and monitoring, he succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 15, according to the medical examiner and a Go Fund Me page created by two friends that has, as of this publication, raised over $50,000 of its $75,000 goal for the funeral and family expenses.

The two men's deaths were ruled to be homicides. The CPD told Windy City Times that the circumstances that led to the fatal stabbings are unclear at this time and they are currently under investigation by Area Five Detectives. When Windy City Times asked CPD if or how the two men knew each other, or whether anything was known about the attack, they said more information will become available as the investigation continues.

Taylor, who was originally from South Carolina, had been a staple of Chicago's LGBTQ+ nightlife community for many years. He spun tunes at many bars and clubs, including at The Whistler and Smartbar. On the evening of Sept. 18, about 50 friends who considered themselves to be his Chicago chosen family gathered around a bonfire, memorial candles and flowers at Hollywood Beach in Edgewater (one of Taylor's favorite places in the city) to honor his life and contributions to the city's LGBTQ+ community.