Men Sentenced In Rising Harlem Rapper’s Shooting Death: DA

HARLEM, NY - Two New York men were sentenced last week in connection with a 2016 shooting in Harlem that resulted in the victim’s fatal seizure two years later, authorities said.

Chester Taylor, 37, of Manhattan, and Darius Hastings, 37, of the Bronx, were sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison in connection with the shooting of Pressie Taylor Jr., also known as ASAP Press, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

Taylor Jr., then 26, was a member of the ASAP Mob, a music group which includes rappers ASAP Rocky, ASAP Ferg and others.

There was no relation between the victim, Pressie Taylor, and Chester Taylor, Patch previously reported.

On July 30, 2016, Taylor Jr. contacted Taylor through a mutual friend to rent a luxury car for a music video, according to the Manhattan DA’s office.

Taylor, who ran an illegal car business through Instagram, offered two cars to Taylor Jr. for $1,000, but never provided the cars after Taylor Jr. paid most of the rental fee up front. Taylor also refused to return the money on several occasions, the DA’s office said.

The debacle escalated on Aug. 28, 2016, when Taylor grew irritated with Taylor Jr.’s demands and threatened him in a series of text messages. Hastings and Taylor then drove to Taylor Jr.’s block in Harlem and shot Taylor Jr. in the back of the head in front of an apartment building on West 137th Street between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard.

While Taylor Jr. survived the initial shooting, he suffered a seizure that was later attributed by a medical examiner to the shooting at a music festival in Houston, Texas in March 2018.

A New York State Supreme Court jury found Taylor and Hastings guilty of murder and related charges on Feb. 9.

“Chester Taylor and Darius Hastings shot and killed a young Harlemite with great ambitions, talent and a bright future,” Bragg said in a statement. “[Taylor Jr.] made a valiant attempt at resuming his life and music career, but unfortunately, he succumbed to the effects of his serious injuries, depriving his family and community of a promising star.”