The case against a man who allegedly shot a painter at Ebby’s Auto Painting & Collision Repair in York County will head to a higher court in the coming months.
Michael Sean Taylor, 41, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon in the York-Poquoson General District Court, meaning his case is now one step closer to a trial.
Taylor is charged with several felonies – including attempted first-degree murder, shooting into an occupied building, 3 counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, two counts of abduction by force and aggravated malicious wounding – which can only be tried at the circuit court level in Virginia.
Taylor is accused of shooting Joey St. Clair, an auto painter at Ebby’s, on July 25. Sheriff’s office investigators have said the shooting was domestic-related.
A criminal complaint filed in the York-Poquoson General District Court says Taylor came up to an employee outside in front of Ebby’s and demanded to see “Joey the painter,” shot a handgun downward into a pillar at the front entrance of the business
Taylor “forced” the man and another employee to lead him into the back garage of the shop, where he fired another shot into a vehicle and demanded to see St. Clair.
When the three men went into another bay where St. Clair was working on a vehicle, Taylor allegedly fired a round into St. Clair’s abdomen, causing him to fall to the floor.
Taylor shot St. Clair several more times when he was on the ground, documents state.
Taylor barricaded himself inside the building for several hours following the shooting, sheriff’s office officials said.
The complaint states Taylor admitted to shooting St. Clair after he was apprehended.
“The accused admitted to getting up the morning of 7/25/2017, retrieving two of his handguns and a shotgun, and going to Ebby’s with the intention of shooting Joseph St. Clair,” the complaint states. “During the interview, the accused stated that he ‘…hopes that mother f—-r dies.’”
WYDaily archives were used in this story.
