John Merlin Taylor

Case record: John Merlin Taylor

Status / legal outcome

John Merlin Taylor killed his wife, went to work at a branch post office, opened fire on co-workers, killed two co-workers, and shot himself in the head. He died the next day after relatives gave permission to discontinue life support.

Background

Taylor was a veteran mail carrier and was described as an “exceptional employee” and a “model mail carrier.” Postal officials said he was never any trouble and that he received numerous commendations for his work. Taylor had been a recently a candidate for an award—postal worker of the quarter.

Neighbors described Taylor and his wife as a quiet couple who loved dancing and said they had lived in their ranch-style house for more than a decade. Taylor had five children by a previous marriage and one stepson, and police said his wife was found in her bed at the nearby Taylor home by police who went to investigate a motive for the shootings. Neighbors said Taylor had been usually pleasant and enjoyed tinkering with his lawn, but police said his demeanor had recently changed, with increased paranoia that was “very moderate,” and he seemed “a little on the grouchy side.”

Taylor had discussed a similar shooting spree two days earlier, according to a friend, and he had joked with co-worker Johnny Sims about a 1986 shooting spree in a post office in Edmond, Okla., in which a disgruntled employee killed 14 fellow workers and injured six others.

The offence

Taylor shot his wife at the couple's home and then drove to work at the Orange Glen Post Office substation. At the post office, he opened fire on co-workers. Police said the shooting barrage ended when he shot and critically wounded himself.

Two employees were killed in the attack: Richard Berni, 38, and Ron Williams, 56. Berni was described as a father of three young children and a Little League baseball coach, and detectives said he was hit in the upper chest. Ron Williams, described as a 20-year postal service veteran, was shot in the head.

Two other employees were wounded. One female worker suffered a broken nose after falling down a flight of stairs while fleeing. Paul DeRisi was confronted by Taylor and was holding his shoulder after being shot.

Police said Taylor fired indiscriminately and randomly, and that 15 to 20 shots from a .22-caliber automatic were fired in the post office as workers dived for cover. Police also said Taylor carried a large stash of ammunition and was apparently prepared for a siege. Police said there were two near-empty ammunition magazines found near Taylor.

Police said Taylor drove his 1974 Plymouth Duster to the post office. Dressed in his postal blues, he entered the post office with his revolver drawn, witnesses said.

Witness testimony during the shooting included an employee reportedly yelling: “Don't go out there; he's got a gun,” as postal workers ran for cover. Postal clerk Paul DeRisi later described Taylor's attack and said: “I was stunned,” adding, “He missed on his first shot and I didn't realize I was hit by the second until I saw the blood. I took off for outside.”

Postmaster Bob Henley came out of his office after hearing gunshots. Henley said: “Mr. Taylor pointed in my direction and shot,” and that at the time Taylor said, “I'm not going to shoot you.” Henley said he locked the door and called police.

Police said Taylor shot at the walls and ceilings, then shot himself in the head in front of a drinking fountain. An employee felt for a pulse and when he saw Taylor was still alive, he took the gun from Taylor, police said.

Police said Taylor's wife was shot twice in the head at close range and apparently did not struggle.

Victims

• Elizabeth Taylor: Taylor’s wife; found in her bed at the nearby Taylor home; shot twice in the head at close range.
• Richard Berni: killed; age 38; hit in the upper chest; father of three young children and a Little League baseball coach.
• Ron Williams: killed; age 56; shot in the head; 20-year postal service veteran.
• Paul DeRisi: wounded; shot in the shoulder.
• Two additional co-workers: wounded; one female worker suffered a broken nose after falling down a flight of stairs while fleeing.

Investigation

Police said a decision on how long Taylor would remain on life-support would be made by doctors, with Police Chief Vincent Jimno stating that police would continue their investigation to try to determine what drove Taylor mad. Investigators said they did not have a rationale for the shootings.

Police chief statements included:

• “We believe he fired indiscriminately and randomly,” said Police Chief Vincent Jimno, adding that “15 to 20 shots from a .22-caliber automatic were fired in the post office as workers dived for cover.”
• “We do not know if it had any meaning in this particular case,” Chief Jimno said.
• “It's real uncomfortable for us because we do not have a rationale for the shooting,” Jimno said. “We are at a loss to explain why.”
• “If all my employees were as good as him, I'd be postmaster general by now,” Henley said, shaking his head in disbelief. “He was an exceptional employee.”
• “I sat outside near a store and wondered why would Taylor do this,” DeRisi said later, nursing his shoulder wound. “I just couldn't figure it out. He was a model carrier.”
• “There was increased paranoia on his part, but very moderate,” Chief Jimno said. “He seemed a little on the grouchy side.”

Authorities said they could not determine whether Taylor’s earlier comments about a similar 1986 Oklahoma shooting spree indicated he was preparing a similar assault.

Police said they were investigating motive and remained searching for a motive, with reporting indicating that toxicology tests were performed.

Deputy Coroner Cal Vine said:

“...he died of a single gunshot wound to the head,”

Toxicology tests were performed in San Diego on the body of John Merlin Taylor.

Arrest

No separate arrest was described; police reported the shootings ended when Taylor shot himself in the head and became critically wounded, later being sustained on life-support systems.

Trial

No trial information was provided.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was provided.

Appeals

No appeals information was provided.

Outcome

Taylor died after relatives gave permission to discontinue life support. Hospital spokesman Alain Jourdier said that Taylor died at Palomar Medical Center soon after relatives gave permission to discontinue life support.

An autopsy on Taylor’s body revealed that he died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

A possible suicide note apparently written by Taylor was undergoing handwriting and fingerprint analysis. Escondido police said the note was addressed to Taylor’s two adult sons from his first marriage and talked about “hurting” and “being ready to go,” and the handwritten note also suggested that unidentified persons “have given me a reason” for the Aug. 10 shooting spree. The note was signed only “your old Dad.”

Aftermath

Flags at San Diego County post offices were lowered to half-staff and dozens of postal workers rallied to help co-workers the day after the shooting rampage. Post office delivery was scheduled to resume for some 17,000 households served by the Orange Glen substation, with reporting that several co-workers were leery of returning.

Other details

Taylor’s wife, Elizabeth, was described as being shot in her bed and was in her early 50s.

Police said Taylor was listed as brain dead late Thursday and was being sustained on life-support systems.

The shooting took place at the Postal Service’s Orange Glen substation in downtown Escondido, Calif.

The gunman’s ammunition and siege preparation were described by police, including that he carried “a large stash of ammunition” and was apparently prepared for a siege. An employee reportedly took the gun from Taylor when he was still alive after the self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Several co-workers were described as having discussed or recalled earlier incidents, including Taylor’s comparison to a similar 1986 massacre in Oklahoma and co-worker Johnny Sims’s account that Taylor told him: “You gotta watch for those postal carriers.” “You never know when they are going to go crazy and shoot you.”

Reporting also connected Taylor’s family history in Missouri, stating that Taylor’s sister Jo Ann, then 17, had shot and killed her father in the 1950s, saying he had abused her and her mother and had threatened the family with death.