Nearly four decades after the murder of real estate agent Shirley Brant, the North Miami Beach Police have finally managed to identify and arrest the man who shot her in the face inside her own office during a violent robbery attempt that took place in 1986.
Jeffrey Taylor, 64 years old and a resident of Liberty City, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
In 1986, he was 26 years old and, according to police reports, was one of the two men who entered the offices of Brant Realty Corporation, located on the second floor of a building at 16375 NE 18th Avenue, on June 13 of that year.
Inside, Shirley Brant, 49 years old, was handling a phone call when she was interrupted by the assailants.
According to a witness and records from that time, Taylor demanded that Brant hang up the phone. She allegedly resisted and began to scream. Her last words were: "Don't shoot," as documented by the Miami Herald at the time. However, Taylor shot her at point-blank range in the face.
Despite being urgently transported to the now-closed Parkway Regional Hospital, Brant died hours later as a result of the gunshot wound to the head.
At the crime scene, fingerprints were collected, particularly from a phone that Taylor had ripped from the receiver and left under the desk. However, that fingerprint was never entered into the automated identification system AFIS, apparently due to it not meeting the technical criteria of the time. This prevented the identification of the murderer at that moment.
The case remained unresolved for 38 years.
In January 2023, a group of retired detectives rejoined the North Miami Beach Police Department to review unsolved crimes. Among the cases reopened was that of Brant. Fingerprint technology had advanced significantly, and by applying new methods to the old evidence, a match was made on March 21, 2025: the fingerprints belonged to Jeffrey Taylor.
Currently, Taylor remains held without bail at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, facing a formal charge of second-degree murder with a firearm.
The announcement of the arrest was met with emotion and sorrow by Shirley Brant's family, who never ceased to demand justice and keep her memory alive.
At a press conference held outside the North Miami Beach Police Department, her son Ben Brant spoke to the media: "She was ahead of her time... she broke the glass ceiling and donated her money to philanthropy," he expressed with emotion.
Brant was not only a prominent businesswoman but also a dedicated mother, exemplary wife, and active member of her community. Her death left a profound wound that was even reflected in her large funeral, which was attended by more than 600 people.
Her husband, Lawrence Brant, a dentist by profession, turned his pain into activism shortly after the crime. In 1986, he founded the Shirley Brant Memorial Fund to combat gun violence, aiming to raise awareness about the impact of armed violence on society.
In an interview granted that same year to the Miami Herald, he stated: "Guns don't kill people, people with guns kill people," openly challenging the well-known slogan of the NRA.
He also sent a clear message about the importance of voting in gun control policies: "People have been calling and asking, 'What can I do?' What they can do is vote for elected officials who want to do something about gun control," he insisted.
Unfortunately, Lawrence passed away in 2016 without seeing the case resolved, but his legacy of struggle endures.
The chief of police of North Miami Beach, Juan Pinillos, emphasized the importance of the arrest: "This arrest is a testament to the power of collaboration, determination, and never giving up," he stated.
The Brant family, although relieved by the arrest, knows that the pain of loss does not fade away with time. However, they assert that this development represents a closure they have waited for nearly 40 years.
Frequently asked questions about the case of Shirley Brant's murder
Who is responsible for the murder of Shirley Brant?
The person responsible for the murder of Shirley Brant is Jeffrey Taylor, who was arrested and charged with second-degree murder nearly 40 years after the crime. Taylor, along with another individual, entered the offices of Brant Realty Corporation in 1986 with the intent to rob, and shot Shirley Brant in the face.
Why did it take so long to resolve the case of Shirley Brant's murder?
The case remained unresolved for 38 years because the fingerprints collected at the crime scene were not entered into the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) at that time, as they did not meet the technical criteria of the era. It was not until March 2025 that, thanks to advancements in fingerprint identification technology, a match was made with Jeffrey Taylor.
What impact did Shirley Brant's death have on her family and the community?
The death of Shirley Brant left a deep wound in her family and the community. Her husband, Lawrence Brant, founded the Shirley Brant Memorial Fund Against Gun Violence to raise awareness about armed violence. The family never stopped demanding justice, and her memory was honored by more than 600 people at her funeral.
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