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Glen Burnie resident Trevor Garrett Taylor was sentenced on Friday to three years in jail for manslaughter following the grisly attack of Christopher Wright outside his Brooklyn Park home that resulted in his death.
According to the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office, in May 2023, police were called to the 300 block of West Arundel Road in Brooklyn Park, where they found Wright suffering from a head injury.
He was rushed to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he died the next day, prompting an extensive investigation.
Investigators say that Wright's 14-year-old son got into a physical altercation with Taylor's 14-year-old nephew at school, and when the boy returned home, Wright was gardening in his front yard when he was first approached.
"Wright entered the home and told his son that his friends were out front to see him," prosecutors said. "The boy told his father the group was there to resume the altercation from school."
The teen, his brother, and Wright then went to the front of the house to confront the group, which included Taylor, at which point there was an altercation between the two that ended with Taylor slamming Wright to the ground, causing the fatal injury.
Officials said that a nearby camera captured the entire incident, which was detailed by prosecutors.
"Taylor can be seen approaching the residence of Wright with his nephew, two boys, and another man," they said. "Video showed Wright being approached by Taylor before punching him in the face and backing away.
"Taylor and the other man then advanced on Wright, with Taylor eventually punching (him) in the face," prosecutors continued. "At one point, the men were between two parked vehicles when Taylor grabbed both of Wright's legs, causing him to strike his head on the asphalt (he then) continued to punch (him) in the head as he lay on the ground before stopping and stepping away."
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined Wright's death was caused by the head injury sustained in the fight.
“Chris went outside to defend his son and was beaten in the head and his head was slammed on the concrete repeatedly causing significant brain damage," organizers of a GoFundMe posted after his death. "These men took the life of an amazing father and life partner. He left this Earth and those who loved him way too soon.”
Taylor pleaded guilty in January to involuntary manslaughter and affray.
"This case sets the example of how actions can have serious consequences," State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said. "What began as a petty disagreement between middle school boys turned into a life-changing event when adults inserted themselves into the dispute instead of leading by example.
"Instead of showing the right way to handle a disagreement, they got physical," she added. "Sadly, in this case, a loving father lost his life."
As part of his sentence, Taylor agreed to waive the more than 15 months of time served since his arrest in July 2023, and will now serve his additional jail time.
A judge also ordered that he serve five years of supervised probation upon release.
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