Details have now been released from an Arizona Department of Public Safety investigative report that provide the first complete account of the events leading to the officer-involved shooting death of Georgio Taylor, 40, of San Diego, on May 4, of last year in Holbrook.
According to the records, Taylor departed from the Canton, Mich., residence he shared with Donna McGee on May 1 driving a black 2016 Maserati. Prior to leaving, Taylor removed a Glock 29 10mm handgun from a bedroom drawer without McGee’s knowledge or permission. McGee later told investigators the firearm had been loaded with a full magazine and one round in the chamber at the time it was taken. Taylor’s wife, Jacqie Taylor, stated during an interview that Taylor had a history of methamphetamine use dating back to 2012 and had recently been exhibiting paranoia and aggressive behavior.
At approximately 10:45 p.m., on the evening of May 4, the assistant manager of McDonald’s, located on Navajo Blvd., in Holbrook contacted law enforcement to request a welfare check on a male subject in a black Maserati who was acting erratically and appeared to be talking to himself. Surveillance footage later retrieved from the restaurant showed Taylor inside the building and at one point removing a black handgun from the front pocket of his hooded sweatshirt before placing it back inside.
At approximately 11:13 p.m., Arizona Department of Public Safety Sergeant Aaron Umphress observed the Maserati fail to stop at a stop sign and fishtail while turning onto Navajo Blvd. Taylor drove to the Super 8 Hotel, located at 1989 Navajo Blvd., parked the vehicle and entered the building. Officers from the Holbrook Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to the location and observed a handgun holster and a loaded magazine in plain view through the windows of the Maserati.
Inside the hotel, HPD Officer Sierra Williams and hotel manager Naell Mustafa monitored Taylor through the facility’s closed-circuit television system. Taylor was observed walking through the second-floor hallways with one hand continuously positioned on a heavy object inside his sweatshirt pocket, at times skipping and repeatedly looking behind him. Taylor exited the building through a second-floor stairwell window onto a lower roof section of the hotel.
Witnesses and officers positioned outside reported hearing a single gunshot from Taylor’s location on the roof. Investigators later recovered a spent 10mm cartridge casing from the roof area and documented a fresh bullet strike in a nearby rain gutter. Taylor re-entered the hotel through another access point and moved into the lobby area, where he encountered the hotel manager.
The report says surveillance showed Taylor positioned himself directly behind the manager while maintaining his hand on the object in his pocket. The manager was able to flee through the front entrance. Taylor remained inside the lobby and moved toward a large glass window near the entrance.
Sgt. Umphress discharged four rounds from his patrol rifle through the window toward Taylor. Taylor fell near the main entrance but then raised his handgun and, according to interviews with the officer, Taylor pointed it toward Holbrook Police Sergeant Ray Patterson, who was positioned outside the glass entry doors. Sgt. Patterson discharged six rounds from his service weapon through the glass doors.
After the shooting stopped, officers entered the lobby and began life-saving measures, including applying pressure to Taylor’s wounds and deploying an automated external defibrillator. Paramedics from Action Medical Service arrived and continued medical treatment. Taylor was pronounced deceased at 11:57 p.m. via a recorded medical patch.
During processing of the scene, investigators recovered a Glock Model 29 10mm handgun from the floor next to Taylor. The firearm was empty with the slide locked back. A glass pipe with burnt residue was also recovered near Taylor’s body. Ballistic testing later confirmed that cartridge casings recovered at the scene had been fired from Taylor’s handgun.
An autopsy was conducted on May 7, 2025, by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. The examination identified multiple gunshot wounds to Taylor’s right shoulder, left shoulder, left lateral neck, right arm and back. Projectiles and fragments were recovered and submitted as evidence. The cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Toxicology testing detected methamphetamine as well as the presence of amphetamine.
Final investigative reports concluded that the handgun recovered at the scene matched the description and serial number of the firearm reported stolen from McGee in Michigan.
While the DPS report was obtained, the last 10 pages were redacted that may include investigative outcomes. When Chief Christensen was asked to clarify procedure, such as why the incident was withheld from the dispatch report at the time of the incident, why there was no press release following the incident, when body camera footage would be available and the outcome of the investigation pertaining to the officers involved, he stated he has yet to receive the report and was advised by DPS that it is awaiting final approval and that his hands are tied in what he can disclose until that time.
