Shamari Taylor Still Missing

ABOUT 11 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2006, Shamari Taylor and his young female companion were surrounded by a menacing pack of masked punks on the streets of Overbrook Park, according to police. The men - police say there were seven to 10 of them - flashed badges and guns and shoved Taylor, 26, and his companion into a car and sped off. Since then, Taylor - son of state Rep. John Myers - has not been seen or heard from. Six hours after the abductions, the ordeal was over for Taylor's unidentified companion, who was released on York Street near 31st in Strawberry Mansion. The next night, Myers' office released a statement. "On behalf of Rep. Myers and his family, we ask for your prayers at this time," it said. "We ask for anyone with knowledge of what happened to his son Shamari to come forward."

Mr. Taylor's 56-year-old mother and his sister, 21, were shot at the family's West Philadelphia home by two intruders the day after his disapperance, authorities said. The mother, shot in the head, was hospitalized in critical condition and later recovered. The sister was treated for a shoulder wound and released. Their names were not made public. Police consider the crimes connected, based on descriptions of the assailants provided by the female companion and the sister.

The companion reported that a group of seven to 10 men shoved them into a van at about 11 p.m., police Lt. John Walker said. She told police they were duct-taped and taken to an unknown location, possibly a warehouse. The woman said she was released at about 5 a.m. Sunday, but did not contact police until about 5 p.m., Lt. Walker said. Two hours later, two intruders -- who might have had a key -- entered the Taylor residence, Lt. Walker said. They shot the women and then rummaged through Mr. Taylor's bedroom, leaving with an undetermined amount of cash. Mr. Myers last spoke with his son a few weeks before the abduction. Nothing seemed amiss, he said.