Sentencing wrapped on Nov. 25 for a Baltimore man convicted in the death of 31-year-old Brian Richardson, 31, with Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John A. Howard committing Brandon Fullard ,40, to a total of eight years in prison.
Fullard, 41, was convicted on Sept. 19 of five counts in connection to Richardson’s death during a road rage-induced shooting in Forest Park–including manslaughter and four handgun violations. Jurors ultimately acquitted Fullard of second-degree murder in connection to the Nov. 12, 2023 incident.
Minutes after 3 p.m.that day, Baltimore City homicide detectives responded to a report of a shooting at a Carroll Motor Fuels gas station located on the 3300 block of Garrison Boulevard, where they learned Richardson’s girlfriend had transported him to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for critical surgery. Richardson was pronounced dead the next day.
Investigators believe the incident began when a 2007 BMW XI driven by Richardson’s girlfriend narrowly missed hitting a dark grey 2016 Toyota Camry that Fullard was driving, causing Fullard to swerve into the gas station. Richardson was reportedly known to enjoy doing mechanical work on his car. Charging documents note that the BMW and the Toyota stopped simultaneously, and that Richardson exited the passenger’s side and approached Fullard’s vehicle.
Fullard then discharged a firearm from inside his vehicle, striking Richardson in the abdomen. Richardson was seen crawling back to the BMW before his girlfriend transported him to Shock Trauma.
Investigators learned Fullard left the scene to complete a Subway delivery for Doordash,
Several of Richardson’s family members were at the hearing. His mother delivered a lengthy, tearful speech attesting to her son’s warm character and diligent work ethic. She appeared in a wheelchair, and was guided to the floor by a fellow family member to deliver her statement.
“He loved children, although he didn’t have any of his own. Brian was a hard worker. He spent a lot of time in school learning a trade,” she said. “He had this insatiable appetite to learn, and he’s like a mirror to me. I miss him so much, because he helped me in so many ways.”
She noted Richardson also helped take care of his brother, who has Down syndrome, and that the responsibility now fell upon her despite her ongoing struggles.
The prosecution urged Judge Howard to impose a maximum sentence of 20 years for manslaughter, claiming the incident was among the most “senseless murders” she had seen in her 25 year experience and calling Fullard “a danger to the community due to a lack of control of his anger.”
“That speaks volumes, I think, about the defendant,” said the prosecution.
Defense attorney Derrick Hamlin pushed for a sentence in the minimum range of three to eight years, citing Fullard’s “pretty exemplary life.” He emphasized his client’s lack of prior convictions, consistent employment history, and repeated expressions of remorse on the stand.
Hamlin also read from several testimonials that claimed Fullard was a caring person who once stopped his car to aid an injured dog, and that his non-confrontational nature was demonstrated as early as middle school, when he faced bullying. Rather than escalate the violence, Fullard chose instead to leave the school, said Hamlin.
At trial, Hamlin argued that Fullard acted in self-defense when he shot Richardson, with Fullard claiming the victim exited the BMW while holding a handgun. Investigators were unable to recover evidence that Richardson had a gun that day, though they later recovered a .45-caliber handgun and several magazines from the home of Fullard’s girlfriend.
When Fullard’s turn to address the court arrived, he faced Richardson’s family, telling them, “I’m purposely looking at you guys, so you understand.”
He said remorsefully that, “If I could undo everything, I would do it.” At the conclusion of his statement, he expressed hope that Richardson’s family could find the grace to forgive him, and that he might later be able to do the same for himself.
After weighing both parties’ arguments, Judge Howard admitted that sentencing is “one of the hardest things a judge has to do.” While he accepted Fullard’s statement and apologies, he remarked that the defendant’s callous behavior immediately after the shooting “did not seem to fit the narrative of this caring, wonderful person” described in the letters written by his friends and family.
“I just find that an amazing factual scenario,” he confessed.
Ultimately, Judge Howard struck a compromise settling for an aggregate sentence of 15 years, suspending all but eight, followed by five years of supervised probation and compliance with anger management evaluations as seen fit.
Fullard was sentenced on the charges of manslaughter, having a loaded handgun on his person, and having a loaded handgun on his vehicle.
No further hearings are scheduled at this time.
