2021 Double-Homicide Defendant Returns to Reception Court After Mistrial

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After a mistrial was declared on Aug. 11 due to a hung jury, defendant Montay Shuler appeared on Aug. 18 in Baltimore City Circuit Court before Judge Melissa M. Phinn to schedule his next trial.

Judge Phinn continued the hearing because the parties wanted a 2024 date, but the 2024 calendar was not yet open. Shuler, 24, and his defense attorney, James Johnston, will reappear on Oct. 3.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on Aug. 5, 2021, Shuler and his codefendant, Raekwon M. Griffin, shot and killed 26-year-old Brian Palmer and 33-year-old Darrin Stewart on the 4300 block of Flowerton Road. When police arrived at the scene, the victims were found unconscious in a car and were transported to Shock Trauma, where they were pronounced dead.

Shuler is facing three counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, firearm use in a felony violent crime and illegal possession of a regulated firearm.

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