Strut Trial Under Way

Testimony continued January 11th in the trial of Rheubin Taylor II in the shooting death of a 20-year-old man following the 2003 Bessie Smith Strut concert in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Taylor, the son of Hamilton County Attorney Rheubin Taylor Sr., faces second-degree murder and two attempted murder charges, along with reckless endangerment and two counts of aggravated assault.

Police said Taylor and Timothy Beasley exchanged gunfire while in a crowd leaving the Strut, inadvertently killing Tory Hardy and injuring two others.

Taylor allegedly admitted to police he took a pistol from under the seat of his car and shot into the crowd after he was confronted by a group of males who threatened him.

Beasley is scheduled for a separate trial in March.

Prosecutor Mike Taylor wrapped up his case, saying the defendant wasn’t paying attention to where he was shooting and that the bullet that killed Hardy came from Taylor’s gun.

Defense attorney Steward Jenkins said his client fired in self defense after alleged gang members threatened Taylor, his sister and girlfriend, according to The Chattanoogan.

The Strut is an annual event that takes place the same week as the city’s eight-day Riverbend Festival but is not affiliated with the festival itself.

The 2003 Riverbend was held in a gated site and required patrons to wear a purchased badge and submit to security searches. In contrast, the Strut was a one-night, free street event held near the Riverbend site and was not regulated by security searches.