Sergeant Nathaniel H. Taylor, 51, a 26-year veteran of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, was killed while off duty at the V & J Tavern on Seventh Street in Newark on the evening of November 26, 1985. Three masked men entered the tavern and announced a robbery; Sergeant Taylor moved to intervene and was fatally shot during the confrontation. Detective Robert E. Walls, an off-duty officer who was also present and drew his weapon, was shot and later died of his wounds 24 days after the incident.

The investigation identified four people involved in the robbery and shootings; the defendants at the time of the crime were aged 17, 18, 18, and 21. They were convicted on two counts of murder and received two consecutive 30-year terms for the deaths of Sergeant Taylor and Detective Walls.

Are there any witnesses or patrons from the V & J Tavern that evening who can add details about how the robbery unfolded or about the suspects?