by Shawn Nowlin
The man suspected of taking the life of beloved Roanoke teenager Jakolbi Taylor through gunfire over the summer in South Carolina has been denied bond.
Hours after a hearing on Nov. 21 for Gary Abrahman, 18, the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office confirmed that a judge did indeed deny his bond.
Throughout the hearing, Abraham’s defense argued that since he has strong ties to South Carolina, he would not be a flight risk if released.
By claiming that he doesn’t have a prior criminal record, his attorneys suggested GPA monitoring instead. Additionally, the defense argued that it was self-defense, and that Abrahams has fully cooperated with law enforcement.
On July 20, while visiting Myrtle Beach for an AAU basketball tournament, Taylor was shot at the beach access on 16th Avenue North. The arrest warrants note that it was Abraham who motioned for Taylor and some friends to follow him before he allegedly opened his backpack and began firing shots.
The teenager faces multiple charges, including one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. If convicted of the former, Abrahams will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Those who knew Taylor best say that he was a young man with limitless potential. On the basketball court, he never cheated his coaches or teammates with effort. In the classroom, he was just as motivated.
“Jakolbi positively touched the lives of so many people. He had the type of personality that brightened up every room that he entered. A true competitor, he never backed down from a challenge, on the court or pertaining to his studies. I will forever cherish the moments that we shared together,” Christian Kirchman, Taylor’s AAU coach, said.
Members of Taylor’s family, including his grandmother Paula Basham and Aunt Briana Taylor, are doing everything in their power to keep the name and legacy of Jakolbi alive.
“I simply can’t listen to another family saying how much they love their child, and they need to be home. My child needs to be here so I can look at him. I wish that I could hug him just one more time. To me, there should never be a bond,” Basham said.
Added Taylor, “We are simply a shell of ourselves. Our hearts are forever broken. Our lives will never be the same. It’s like a dark cloud hovering over us at this point.”
