Man convicted of attempted murder in Montgomery

A man has been convicted of attempted murder after a shooting at a Montgomery convenience store.

Maricas Taylor faces life in prison without the possibility of parole after his conviction of attempted murder and illegally possessing a firearm, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Azzie Oliver.

The shooting happened at the Petro Mart convenience store on Fairview Avenue in 2022.

According to evidence presented at trial, Taylor entered the store and started arguing with the cashier. He left, but returned 30 minutes later, this time wearing a mask in an attempt to conceal his identity, the evidence showed.

Video surveillance showed that Taylor drew a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine, approached the cashier and fired at her multiple times. She wasn’t hit. Taylor then ran out of the store, got in his vehicle and left.

Investigators were able to locate him and the car, where they uncovered multiple items of evidence connecting him to the crime, Oliver said.

She said due to Taylor’s extensive violent criminal history, he was prohibited from having a gun under Alabama law.

He is scheduled for sentencing on February 26.

“Maricas Taylor is a repeat criminal offender who chose to settle a dispute by opening fire inside a neighborhood convenience store,” Oliver said. “He endangered innocent lives in a place where employees work hard for a living, and customers expect to feel safe. His reckless and deliberate actions demonstrated a complete disregard for human life and for the law. This verdict holds the defendant accountable for his actions, and reinforces that repeat violent behavior will have serious consequences.”