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John Taylor

Wendy’s Massacre
Terrible Tragedy
Wendy’s killer John Taylor.
It was one of the most brutal and horrific murders the borough has ever seen.

On May 24, 2000, two gunmen held up the Wendy’s restaurant at 42-12 Main St. in Flushing, killing five employees and severely wounded two others.

Those charged with the crimes, Craig Godineaux and former employee John Taylor, gained entrance to the store and herded workers to the basement freezer, wrapped plastic bags around their heads – and shot them in the heads at point-blank range. It was a crime so ruthless and grisly that it shocked seasoned homicide detectives and left crime scene cops and city morgue workers sickened.

Godineaux was arrested a short while after Taylor “gave him up” and told police where his accomplice could be found. Godineaux received five life sentences, while Taylor became the first person sentenced to death in Queens since Governor George Pataki reinstated the penalty in February 1995. Though nine years later almost all the death penalty cases were overturned, Taylor continues to sit on Death Row.

'Remorse'

Relatives of the victims wept in court as the verdict was read out.

A day before his sentence, Taylor apologised to the victims' families, expressing remorse for his crimes.

The crime shocked even hardened New Yorkers

"I've shamed my family and shamed my children," he said.

"I know you cannot forgive me. I don't expect you to. I'm sorry."

Taylor and Godineaux had been eating in the restaurant just before closing, when Taylor approached the manager and the pair went into the basement, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Later the manager called the remaining employees down to the basement and Godineaux followed.

One of the survivors testified at the trial that he came down the stairs to find the restaurant safe wide-open and Taylor with a gun ordering everyone to lie on the floor.

Previous convictions

Godineaux then bound and gagged them with duct tape, before pulling plastic bags over their heads and shooting five of the victims, three fatally.

The two survivors managed to free themselves and raise the alarm two hours later.

Last year Godineaux pleaded guilty to shooting five of the victims and received five life sentences but was ineligible for the death penalty due to his mental disability.

At the time of Taylor's arrest, police said he was a fugitive who had jumped bail in a previous fast-food robbery.

He had a record stretching back to 1996, when he was sentenced to five years' probation for trying to steal from a McDonald's where he was assistant manager.

He was also linked to several robberies or attempted robberies at four fast-food businesses in Queens.
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Killed in the massacre were:
Jean Auguste, 27
Ali Ibadat, 40
Jeremy Mele, 19
Ramon Nazario, 44
Anita Smith, 23

Seriously wounded:
Ja Quione Johnson, 18
Patricio (Patrick) Castro, 23