Defendant Receives Maximum Sentence for Beating Woman with Shovel

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Julian E. Taylor, 32, of Buffalo, was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges. Taylor received a determinate sentence of 25 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision, the maximum term of incarceration for his conviction.

On Thursday, July 31, 2025, at approximately 8:14 p.m., the defendant was involved in a verbal dispute with his girlfriend outside of their shared residence on Greene Street in the City of Buffalo. During the argument, the defendant hit the victim with his hands until she fell onto the driveway. The defendant intentionally caused serious physical injuries to the victim by means of a dangerous instrument while she was on the ground. The defendant attempted to cause the death of the victim by striking her multiple times in the head and body with a shovel before a witness intervened.

The defendant was quickly apprehended by a responding police officer. The victim, a 29-year-old female, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where she remained hospitalized for several weeks to receive treatment for serious physical injuries, including multiple skull fractures and injuries to her arms.

In June 2026, a jury found Taylor guilty of one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Assault in the First Degree (Class B violent felonies) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (Class D felony). Jurors rendered their decision after approximately six hours of deliberation following a two-day trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment.

Today, a final order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, which remains in effect until July 2058.

DA Keane commends Officer Aaron Stenzel, Detective Lauren Sterlace, Detective Nicholas Skalski and Detective Scott Seifert of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation as well as the Buffalo Fire Department, paramedics, medical personnel, and ECDA victim advocate Alyssa Hewitt.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jordynn-Celeste Harter of the Domestic Violence Bureau.

If you or someone you know is a victim or may be at-risk of domestic violence, help is available through the BE SAFE Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Program. While our staff specialize in trauma-informed support and victim advocacy following the arrest of an offender, you do not need to have a pending criminal case to speak with an advocate and access services. For more information on BE SAFE, call 716-858-4630 or visit www.erie.gov/besafe.