Woman who murdered birthday celebrant told witness ‘God had other plans’ for the victim, prosecutors say

Terri Bailey, left, and Jamia Taylor (Chicago Police Department, National Gun Violence Memorial)

A South Side woman accused of fatally shooting another woman outside a South Shore nightclub allegedly told a friend afterward that she didn’t want to kill the victim but “God had other plans for her.”

Terri Bailey, 36, is charged with first-degree murder in the February 9 killing of 29-year-old Jamia Taylor in the 1800 block of East 79th Street, according to Chicago police and Cook County prosecutors.

Taylor was celebrating her birthday with friends at a nightclub when a fight broke out between her and her ex-boyfriend, prosecutors said during Bailey’s detention hearing before Judge James Costello. Security escorted Bailey and the man outside, and surveillance footage showed them getting into a car that circled the alley behind the club.

About five minutes later, Taylor walked out with a friend and approached a white SUV. As the two hugged beside the vehicle, video showed Bailey walking around the front of the SUV with a gun in her hand, prosecutors said. She walked up to Taylor, who was still partially embracing her friend, pointed the gun from close range, and shot her in the chest.

The friend reported hearing Bailey say, “Hey, bitch!” before firing.

Taylor collapsed and died. Bailey fled the scene, and cameras recorded her running down an alley with the gun still in her hand as an unidentified man fired shots toward her, according to prosecutors. Several witnesses who knew Bailey later identified her as the shooter.

The day after the killing, Taylor’s ex-boyfriend spoke with Bailey multiple times in phone calls that were recorded by a third party. During one of those calls, Bailey allegedly said she hadn’t meant to kill Taylor, only to hurt her, but “God had other plans for her.” The recordings were turned over to police.

Judge Costello ordered Bailey detained while awaiting trial.