(Photo:Morgan County Coroner Office)
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) – The trial for a Jacksonville man charged in a 2024 murder ended in a plea deal. Investigators said Larry Taylor shot and killed 18-year-old Trenton Jackson in 2024.
Taylor pleaded guilty to second-degree murder during the second day of his trial. The judge sentenced Taylor to 26 years.
Twenty years for murder, three for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and three for beating a correctional officer. Before Taylor changed his mind and pleaded guilty, two witnesses took the stand.
Prosecutors called 23-year-old Kailey Whicker to the stand. She said she was at Jacksonville’s Downtown Liquors, where the shooting happened.
Whicker testified she did not see the shooting happen but said she heard shots fired near her. She said she didn’t know Taylor or Jackson and only went to the liquor store to purchase alcohol with her friend.
During her visit to the store, Whicker said she noticed a group of people, later identified as Taylor’s group, walking westbound on College Avenue, while Jackson’s group was standing in the liquor store parking lot.
Whicker said she heard some aggressive comments, leading her to believe something bad was going to happen.
Prosecutors asked for her opinion on who she thought was the aggressor, and she said the person walking westbound, Larry Taylor.
The defense said in Whicker’s interview with investigators, she told them she didn’t know who said what to whom.
But she did testify she saw Taylor walking aggressively toward Jackson, and Jackson didn’t say or do anything aggressive.
Next, the state called 21-year-old Demorion Harris to the stand. He testified he is Jackson’s cousin and was present with him at the liquor store the day of the shooting.
He testified that once they exited the store, they heard shouting coming from a group of people.
He said the group kept getting closer and closer and he could finally hear Taylor say, “This looks like two free kills.”
Harris said Taylor approached them in a hostile way, and he assumed Taylor had a gun because he had his hand in his pants.
The defense said Harris never told investigators what Taylor said and pointed out Harris has active charges of his own pending.
The defense then questioned whether prosecutors offered him any deals to testify, and Harris said no. He said he chose to testify because it’s the right thing to do for his family.
Jackson’s grandmother, April Franklin, told NewsChannel 20 and Fox Illinois they deserve peace and haven’t had any since Jackson passed away.
“He was loved by many,” Franklin said. “Trenton was my life, my world, and it’s been hard because I have his 4-year-old son at home with me. He’s asking questions pertaining to his dad and I have to try to answer the best I can.”
Jackson’s family was not present in the courtroom when Taylor’s sentence was handed down. But the Morgan County State’s Attorney, Gray Noll, said he warned them beforehand.
Taylor looked a little different than the mugshot used in previous reporting. He appeared a little older and had dreads that he wore in a ponytail. He remained stoic the entire time.
Noll said he hopes the sentencing brings Jackson’s family closure. He said he hopes the sentence also deters further gun violence in the community.
Noll said Taylor will receive credit for 618 days served for the gun and murder charges and one day for aggravated battery.