PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The wound of losing Maurice Taggart, the former director of Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency remains fresh— not only for the community of Pine Bluff but also for the family he left behind.
Almost two months after his death and they've still been working to piece together what exactly happened on the night he was killed.
"At the end of the day Maurice Taggart was a human being, just as we all are and what happened to him is a travesty and a tragedy," Activist Mark Cannon said.
According to the Pine Bluff Police Department, shortly after 2:00 a.m. on August 30, they responded to a home on Hillcroft St. for a reported shooting that involved a father and son.
Once they arrived, officers found that two males who had been shot were the former director of the Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency 43-year-old Maurice Taggart, and his son 26-year-old Justice Taggart. Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment, where Maurice reportedly died from his injuries, and Justice was left in stable condition.
However, in a Wednesday press conference held that was held on the steps of the Jefferson County courthouse, some were questioning the report from police. Some of Maurice's family and activists were also calling on several city officials including the chief of police and the county prosecutor to step down.
"This not no side, this not about money now, don't need a dime I don't need anything. This closure was to represent my brother because," Cedric Taggart said.
Pine Bluff Police reported that the Taggart case is closed. However, Cedric Taggart the brother of Maurice Taggart explained that his dad, mother, as well as himself, want a deeper investigation.
"I'm gonna say this and I'm gonna say great I don't have to get a dime. I don't want anything, don't give me a dime. I don't want nothing, what I want is Maurice Taggart's justice that's all I care about," Cedric described.
City leaders eventually had to shut down the press conference after tensions started to rise as other family members like Tiffany Taggart, the sister of Maurice Taggart spoke out and said the investigation conducted by Pine Bluff Police has been fair and she trusts that justice will prevail.
"I trust the justice system if they did not do with our investigation in time that will happen but as of right now, my nephew has already given me all the facts Cedric, as well as my mother are looking to be paid," Tiffany said.
She went on to say that they chose to break their silence at the press conference on Wednesday because of the pain all this stirred up and caused.
"Which has been the most hurtful situation. My brother used to tell my readers always to keep our home life private, that's why we didn't speak out because we like you, know that naysayers can say what they want to say. We're gonna know the truth," Tiffany said.
As for what's next, Maurice's daughter, Madison Taggart just wants people to move on and lay the rumors to rest about her father.
"This is really hard. Like I don't have my dad who's gonna walk me down the aisle when I get married. My dad was my everything and we were super close and nobody knows the relationship that I have. So for people to act like this it hurts," Madison said.