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By
Ziqi Zhou
- March 18, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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A 19-year-old defendant in the 2023 Brooklyn Day mass shooting pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and related charges before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn S. Mays, accepting a five-to-12 year sentence, the first five without the possibility of parole. The range was confirmed by the Baltimore Office of the State’s Attorney.
Tristan Jackson initially faced 57 charges, including seven counts of attempted first-degree murder, in relation to a July 2, 2023 mass shooting event that claimed the lives of 18-year-old Aaliyah Gonzalez and 20-year-old Kylis Fagbemi. Jackson also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, firearm use in a violent crime, and possession of a firearm as a minor.
Had he gone to trial and been convicted on every count, the sentence could have aggregated to 455 years.
Approximately 30 more people were wounded by the gunfire near the 800 block of Gretna Court during the Brooklyn Day block party celebration.
Jackson was on GPS home monitoring at the time of the incident, wearing an ankle device that recorded his movements. Nearby video surveillance footage showed Jackson and three others exiting a silver vehicle near the scene. After initial shots were fired, Jackson discharged five rounds into the 4000 block of 8th Street.
Jackson then drove 20-year-old co-defendant Aaron Brown, who suffered a gunshot wound to his hand, to the hospital. Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in May 2024, accepting a sentence of 60 years, suspending all but 12.
According to a press release, Jackson’s plea marks the fifth conviction related to the Brooklyn Day mass shooting. Three juvenile co-defendants previously pleaded guilty for their involvement.
Jackson, who is represented by defense attorneys Matthew Connell and Brian Levy, will return to court for sentencing April 29.