Slidell man convicted of fatally shooting co-worker at car dealership

ST. TAMMANY PARISH, Louisiana (WVUE) – A St. Tammany Parish jury has found 25-year-old Brian Taylor of Slidell guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of co-worker Zakary Stewart at a Hyundai dealership.

The jury deliberated for about four hours before returning its verdict on Friday, August 16.

Taylor faces up to 40 years in prison, with a minimum sentence of 20 years for the use of a firearm.

The five-day trial centered on a 2022 labor dispute between Taylor and Stewart.

Prosecutors believe tensions escalated after Taylor allegedly sent unwanted text messages to Stewart's girlfriend.

On September 16, 2022, the feud culminated in a physical altercation outside the dealership's service bay. Parts of the incident were captured on surveillance video from a nearby business. The two men can be seen trading blows before being separated by co-workers.

Moments later, prosecutors said, Taylor grabbed a gun from the service bay.

“Co-workers heard Taylor fire a bullet and pleaded with him, 'Don't do it, Brian, don't do it!'” Sims' office said in a press release.

Despite pleas to stop, Taylor and Stewart continued to fight. Prosecutors say Taylor pointed the gun at Stewart's chest and fired. Stewart collapsed and was pronounced dead at the scene before medical personnel arrived.

The defense argued that Taylor acted in self-defense and portrayed Stewart as the aggressor. The prosecution claimed that Taylor started the physical altercation and escalated it by pulling out the firearm, thereby forfeiting his right to self-defense.

The prosecution said Taylor's actions were deliberate and driven by anger, not fear. The jury agreed and found the defendant guilty of manslaughter.

Taylor's sentencing is scheduled for September 4.

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