Lawton man, 61, bound over for January 2023 murder case

A 61-year-old man accused of killing another man following an argument has been bound over for trial.

Following his Tuesday preliminary hearing in Comanche County Special District Judge Susan Zwaan’s courtroom, Johnny Clifton Taylor, of Lawton, it was determined enough probable cause was found for him to face trial for felony charges of first-degree murder — deliberate intent, and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction, records indicate.

During interviews with police, Taylor admitted to shooting Joe E. Sawyer Jr. in the left chest, killing him the afternoon of Jan. 25, 2023, in the living room at 1102 NW Birch. Taylor said he’d come out of his room because he was tired of Sawyer and a woman arguing and being loud in the living room, the probable cause affidavit states. He said Sawyer became aggressive when confronted and struck him several times atop the head with brass knuckles.

Taylor said he retrieved his Luger semi-automatic pistol from its lock box in his room before returning to the living room where he fired “several shots in the floor of the living room,” the affidavit states. When Sawyer came toward him, Taylor said he shot him in the chest.

Records indicate Taylor has a June 1994 conviction in the 173rd District Court of Texas for aggravated assault causing great bodily injury.

Taylor returns to court at 9 a.m. March 20 for his formal arraignment. He remains jailed on $500,000 bond.