The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the murder conviction of Shauntae Laquana Taylor in connection with the September 2019 shooting death of Miguel Munoz in DeKalb County. Justice Ellington issued the opinion on Feb. 3, 2026, rejecting Taylor's sole claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
Taylor was convicted of malice murder and multiple other charges stemming from Munoz's death in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, 2019. A DeKalb County grand jury indicted Taylor along with co-defendant Jessica Smith on Dec. 12, 2019, charging both with malice murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The cases against Taylor and Smith were severed for separate trials, a procedural decision that proved significant for the prosecution's strategy. Smith, with no formal agreement with the State, testified for the prosecution at Taylor's trial, providing key evidence that helped secure the conviction.
Following trial proceedings, a jury found Taylor guilty on all counts on March 28, 2022. The trial court imposed substantial sentences: life with the possibility of parole on the malice murder count, 20 years to serve in prison on one aggravated assault count to run consecutively, and five years to serve on the firearm possession count, also consecutive. The court vacated the felony murder count and merged one aggravated assault count into the malice murder conviction.
Taylor's defense team filed a timely motion for new trial on April 19, 2022. New counsel later amended the motion on July 1, 2024, but the trial court denied the motion for new trial on Sept. 4, 2024. Taylor then appealed to the Georgia Court of Appeals, which transferred the case to the Georgia Supreme Court on May 15, 2025. The high court docketed the case to its August 2025 term and decided it based on written briefs without oral arguments.
On appeal, Taylor raised only one issue: ineffective assistance of counsel. She contended her trial attorney failed to adequately pursue a defense theory suggesting co-defendant Jessica Smith may have been the primary decision-maker in the shooting. According to the court documents, Taylor argued her counsel should have more effectively explored this potential defense strategy.
The ineffective assistance of counsel standard requires defendants to prove both that their attorney's performance fell below professional standards and that this deficient performance prejudiced the outcome of the trial. Courts apply a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.
The Georgia Supreme Court's affirmance of Taylor's conviction represents the final level of state appellate review available. The opinion notes it remains subject to potential modification through motions for reconsideration under Supreme Court Rule 27, court reconsideration, and editorial revisions by the Reporter of Decisions. The final version will appear in the Georgia Reports Advance Sheets and ultimately in bound volumes containing the official text.
The case illustrates the complex dynamics that can arise when co-defendants' cases are severed for trial. Smith's decision to testify for the State without a formal cooperation agreement demonstrates how prosecution strategies can evolve based on the evidence and witness availability. Such testimony from co-defendants often carries significant weight with juries, as these witnesses typically have detailed knowledge of the events in question.
Taylor's substantial sentence reflects the serious nature of the charges. The consecutive sentencing structure means she must serve the full terms in sequence rather than concurrently, resulting in a longer overall prison term. Life with the possibility of parole for malice murder, combined with the additional consecutive sentences, ensures Taylor will serve decades in prison before becoming eligible for parole consideration.
The timing of the case also demonstrates the lengthy appellate process in serious criminal cases. With Munoz's death occurring in September 2019, the indictment in December 2019, trial and conviction in March 2022, and final appellate resolution in February 2026, the case spanned more than six years from the initial incident to final resolution.
The Georgia Supreme Court's decision provides finality for the victim's family while exhausting Taylor's direct appeal options. Any future challenges would need to proceed through post-conviction relief procedures, which have more limited grounds and higher procedural hurdles than direct appeals.