Suspect arrested in shooting death

The Post and Courier
Friday, October 3, 2008


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Taylor

North Charleston police have arrested a suspect in the September shooting death of Thomas Scott Yelton.

Kendrick Jerome Taylor, 18, of North Charleston, is charged with murder, said Spencer Pryor, police public information officer. Taylor remains at the Charleston County jail, awaiting a bond hearing today.

Police released no new details about Yelton's death or a motive for the killing.

Yelton, 41, was brought in his pickup truck to an Oakwood Avenue home on Sept. 13, where he was forced out and shot multiple times, police said. When officers arrived, Yelton was on the lawn, and a witness to the shooting was holding Yelton in his arms, a police report said. Yelton later died of his injuries.

Yelton's truck was later found on Bexley Street, less than a mile away.

Police served the murder warrant for Taylor on Thursday at the Charleston County Detention Center, where Taylor was being held for an armed robbery charge stemming from a Sept. 16 incident near Rivers Avenue and Melbourne Street. There, a man was robbed at gunpoint and his bicycle was stolen, a police report said. No one was injured in that case.

Yelton lived in North Charleston but also was known to live in Greenwood, Charleston County Coroner Dottie Lindsay said when he died. His obituary in the Greenwood Index-Journal said he was employed by the Eldeco Inc. electrical company in Greenwood. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Lander University in Greenwood, the obituary said.

Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.

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Comments

vtsusa (anonymous) says...

Hang him up!

October 3, 2008 at 1:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sethook (anonymous) says...

Lets not be too quick to judge this poor misunderstood youth. The Charlestonians have failed again to properly supervise and guide this person in the proper conduct/behavior that goes with a civilized society. I'm sure the judge he stands in front of will see to it that he gets another chance and hopefully he will see the light and walk the straight and narrow.

NOT...

October 3, 2008 at 1:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mf105 (anonymous) says...

Police served the murder warrant for Taylor on Thursday at the Charleston County Detention Center, where Taylor was being held for an armed robbery charge stemming from a Sept. 16

sound like he is trying to make a career out of crime. fry him

October 3, 2008 at 6:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

moonpie (anonymous) says...

MF105, story says "no motive". I'm with you, sounds like we have a motive, ROBBERY!
These thugs are getting more outlandish in their methods. Was Mr Yelton white I wonder? Does this scumbag Taylor have any kids? Just want to know what we have to look forward to from his contributions to society.

October 3, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

DanniD (anonymous) says...

Thomas1776 brings up a good point...where is all of this extreme violence coming from?

October 3, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

burton (anonymous) says...

What is wrong with my fellow black males? This is past ridiculous! 18 years old and has thrown his life away!! Over 1 million black males in jail/prison today--oops, make that 1 million, one! Senseless!

October 3, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

DoaMM (anonymous) says...

He's pretty...

October 3, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

boplaw (anonymous) says...

Scott was a good guy and came from a very good family in Greenwood. I saw him the week before his death. He was doing well in his new job and seemed to have his life in order.

RIP.

October 3, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

westashleyboi (anonymous) says...

Kendrick is one of the 10% that cause 90% of the crime.

Per Charleston county courts website:

8-28-07 arrested for possession of stolen pistol and possession of pistol under 21. Those charges were dismissed after he plead to other charges (which were not specified)

12-14-07 arrested for unlawful carrying of a pistol. Was sentenced to probation.

9-16-08 arrested for armed robbery

9-29-08 was served with probation violation warrant

Another person murdered by a scumbag on probation.

Imagine what his juvenile and misdemeanor record look like.

October 3, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

charlene68 (anonymous) says...

His eye is crossed now, but nothing like it will be when he goes to jail...maybe the other inmates will poke it out and then he want have one... little ugly punk

October 3, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ln1959 (anonymous) says...

Thomas1716 Good post today. I myself can not understand why these kids today don't take life serious. How can you just take a person life and go to bed like its all right.

I was taught to love life and respect others life. There is a big problem out here and I am not sure what to do about this.

moonpie: I see you have more then 3 words today. Why is it important if the person was White. Someone was killed by a little punk.

October 3, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

RTC (anonymous) says...

What is wrong with these young people? What has caused them to become so coldhearted? They took this poor man and shot him multiple times. Do they not have any feelings or compassion towards their fellow human beings?
I just don't understand what is happening to today's youth. Life means nothing to them, and the criminals seem to be getting younger all the time.

October 3, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tigerleo (anonymous) says...

To DoaMM: How sick can you be to say that this murderer is pretty? You need to check yourself! You have just placed yourself in the same category as this punk who has made a career out of being a criminal.
To In1959: Thank you for your post. I agree with you. Youth today have no respect for human life. There is a problem when young people feel the need to ruthlessly kill another human being.
This world has gotten so wicked. We all need God in our lives. Taking prayer out of our schools and God out of our daily conversations will lead to this Nation's downfall.

October 3, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

cfrulla1 (anonymous) says...

not to generalize, but the majority of crime like this is due to drugs, cocaine, crack, heroin, and sadly enough weed...this is the "hood life", it is glorified in rap music....its all about the benjamins they say....what they don't realize is that all their iconic rap stars didn't get rich by selling drugs and robbing...most of the truly rich rappers i.e. Jay Z, P Diddy, etc... are very smart business men...solution, better role models, better parenting, better public schools, more after school programs, harsher penalties, harsher prison life, work camps instead of sitting around in prison....a hard line approach is needed and until then this crap will continue....think about it, you get caught dealing, stealing, robbing, etc..instead of sitting in a jail cell relaxing, you are forced to pick up trash all through the city, park maintenance, roadside cleanup, work in the summer heat of charleston outdoors 8 hours a day...you think people would be as carefree about going to jail?

October 3, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

MR_PRETTY (anonymous) says...

Mr. Taylor, you are very bad! shame on you my brother. Seek god and atone for your sins. this is indirectly related to racism and dysinfranchisement!

October 3, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

summerville_guy (anonymous) says...

So a guy who steals bicycles kills a college graduate. Why couldn't he have left the person who actually wanted to make something out of his life alone?

October 3, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigSargeofSC (anonymous) says...

Scott was my cousin. He was a white man. Not that it has anything to do with the fact that this piece of scum was out walking the street after soo many violent crimes. He took someones life that meant a lot to me. All for a truck, a wallet and his cell phone. I would love to be able to be the one to hand out his punishment. Hopefully the judge in this case won't just slap him on the wrist this time. I feel for his Mother but I have no pitty for him. I hope he rots in hell for what he took from us. Scott's family is the ones that are suffering now wondering "WHY?"

October 5, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nug123 (anonymous) says...

what were you thinking??? May be that is it you weren't. How does an 18 year old take the life of another man? Do you not understand what a life is? It is to be treasured and not taking by someone else for ANY THING. You took not only a person from this world, but a son, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, a lover. You must not have anyone who ever loved you in your whole life. For that I am truly sorry for you. You need serious help. I only hope you get it befor they let you out on the rest of the world to do it again.
Cause next time you might be the one who dies....

October 7, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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