Taylor later admitted to a jailhouse informant that he shot Aguilar after Aguilar shot Mario Melara, according to detective testimony reported by the Times. The detective also testified that Taylor said the ghost gun he was carrying jammed after the shooting.
Aguilar survived for more than three months before dying in December 2024 from injuries sustained in the shooting.
The three defendants are facing murder charges in connection with the deaths of both Aguilar and Melara, under the theory that the suspect’s death was provoked by the armed robbery of Aguilar, the Times reported.
Aguilar founded Self Made Training Facility, a fitness franchise that grew to roughly 30 locations across several states. He built a large following by sharing his story of overcoming poverty and addiction while promoting entrepreneurship and fitness.
Following his death, Aguilar’s family described him as “a visionary, an inspiration, a mentor, a father, a husband” whose impact extended throughout the fitness industry.