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Records: Murder-suicide suspect could have been in prison

Posted at 6:49 PM, Apr 22, 2013
and last updated 2013-04-22 19:32:32-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- The suspect in an alleged murder-suicide over the weekend could have been in prison at the time of the incident, court records obtained by CBS 6 show.

According to police, 38-year-old Clarence Friend Taylor II shot and killed 33-year-old Christina Squire inside their home before turning the gun on himself Saturday in the 3900 block of Rusk Avenue in Richmond.

Additionally, when two Richmond police officers approached the home to check on the welfare of the people inside, those two officers were allegedly shot and wounded by Taylor.

While the officers names are not being released they are described by investigators as officers with years of experience on the force.

The incident is also the first shooting of a police officer since 2003 in the City of Richmond.

But could the ordeal have been prevented if Taylor had been in prison?

According to court documents, Taylor pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon in 2011 and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

However, the entire prison sentence was suspended under a plea agreement obtained by CBS 6.

"It is definitely a lot easier to look back now and say that was a mistake but at the time they are judging it on what they are doing at the time," CBS 6 Legal Analyst Todd Stone said.

Stone pointed to language in the plea agreement that said only one bullet was found in a car during a traffic stop by police.

"A felon in possession of a gun is a lot more dangerous than a felon in possession of just one bullet," Stone said.

While Taylor did not serve time in prison for that charge, he was given supervisory probation.

But according to court records, Taylor's probation officer recommended in September 2012 that Taylor be "released from supervisory probation," saying that "there is nothing additional to be achieved by continuing supervision."

As a result, the court granted that request.

Depend on CBS to continue investigating this developing story. 

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