HYDE PARK MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FATAL ’06 SHOOTING March 21, 2008 In a tear-filled courtroom, a Hyde Park man today admitted to firing the shots that killed a one-time college and student basketball standout in the course of a fistfight just days before the victim would have turned 21, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced. SHANE SINCLAIR, 21 (D.O.B. 10/1/86), pleaded guilty to the crime of manslaughter, accepting a 10-year state prison term for shooting Alray Taylor when Taylor began to get the better of him in a brawl that began with words outside a River Street market on the morning of Aug. 31, 2006. Had the case proceeded to trial, Suffolk prosecutors would have introduced evidence and testimony to prove that Sinclair and Taylor crossed paths as Sinclair left Liriano’s Market at about 10:30 a.m. The two men became involved in a verbal confrontation that quickly escalated to fisticuffs and began moving down River Street toward Roxanna Street. After several rounds of punches, Taylor knocked Sinclair to the ground, opening up distance between them. It was at that point that Sinclair produced a handgun and fired three times, striking Taylor once in the neck and once in the chest. Prior to sentencing, two of Taylor’s sisters took the witness stand to offer impact statements describing their loss, which had been compounded by the deaths of their parents. “The day you killed my big brother, the rest of my life changed,” said Patricia Taylor. “I don’t know what happened that day, but I know that my big brother’s no animal. He was a high school graduate and had a big future ahead of him … I just want you and your family to put yourselves in our shoes.” Taylor’s older sister, Altia, also addressed the court, calling her slain brother “a gentle giant.” “I don’t hate you,” she told Sinclair. “I only pray that God has mercy on your soul and you use your time productively. When you get out, help make lives better instead of taking them.” Sinclair also made a statement, briefly addressing his victim’s family. “I would like to say to the sisters and the family, I am sorry for what happened,” he said. “I wish we had never bumped heads. I wish I hadn’t been out there. I should’ve stayed at home. I’m really sorry for your loss.” Finally, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Margaret Hinkle addressed the parties and spectators. “I don’t need to tell anyone that this was a very sad case,” she said. “I see tears in the eyes of members of both families. I hope some closure and healing can now occur.” Taylor was represented today by attorney David Apfel. Return to the Press Releases page.