Chaos erupted in a courtroom Thursday as family members of a murder victim and defendant began shouting and swearing at each other.

The brawl began after Melvin Dalton, of Pontiac, who was being sentenced on a charge of second-degree murder for the death of Sean Christopher Taylor, of Clarkston, began to speak.

"Sean's family, they're looking for some justice. I understand that. But what about my justice?" Dalton said.

"F--- you," said one of Taylor's relatives, as he stood up from his seat in the second row and lunged forward.

"Back up, motherf---er," replied a man who was in the front row, and turned around to face the first man.

Other people began shouting.

"You murdered my son!" "Murderer!" "F--- you!"

 

Oakland County Sheriff's deputies swooped in and tried to control both sides. They forced people out of the courtroom, some of whom left shouting, swearing and crying. Continued...

Dalton was previously convicted of shooting 21-year-old Taylor on Sept. 16, 2008 while Taylor was in his vehicle in an alley off Prospect Street near Paddock street in Pontiac. Oakland Circuit Judge Phyllis McMillen sentenced Dalton to 562 months to 900 months in prison.

"It was unnerving," said Oakland Press videographer Doug Bauman. "If it wasn't for the deputies responding so quickly, it could have escalated into a much more violent (event). I think they would have come to blows. The deputies were wonderful. They had things under control very quickly."

The chaos then spilled out into the hallway as deputies had removed several people from the courtroom. After calm was restored, the sentencing was concluded.

It is not immediately known if anyone was arrested. &

Chaos erupted in a courtroom Thursday as family members of a murder victim and defendant began shouting and swearing at each other.

The brawl began after Melvin Dalton, of Pontiac, who was being sentenced on a charge of second-degree murder for the death of Sean Christopher Taylor, of Clarkston, began to speak.

"Sean's family, they're looking for some justice. I understand that. But what about my justice?" Dalton said.

"F--- you," said one of Taylor's relatives, as he stood up from his seat in the second row and lunged forward.

"Back up, motherf---er," replied a man who was in the front row, and turned around to face the first man.

Other people began shouting.

"You murdered my son!" "Murderer!" "F--- you!"

 

Oakland County Sheriff's deputies swooped in and tried to control both sides. They forced people out of the courtroom, some of whom left shouting, swearing and crying.

Dalton was previously convicted of shooting 21-year-old Taylor on Sept. 16, 2008 while Taylor was in his vehicle in an alley off Prospect Street near Paddock street in Pontiac. Oakland Circuit Judge Phyllis McMillen sentenced Dalton to 562 months to 900 months in prison.

"It was unnerving," said Oakland Press videographer Doug Bauman. "If it wasn't for the deputies responding so quickly, it could have escalated into a much more violent (event). I think they would have come to blows. The deputies were wonderful. They had things under control very quickly."

The chaos then spilled out into the hallway as deputies had removed several people from the courtroom. After calm was restored, the sentencing was concluded.

It is not immediately known if anyone was arrested.&