A 64-year-old defendant was sentenced on June 8 to life for the murder of a 33-year-old man in 2024.
On March 20 Tyrone Kirby Epps was convicted of first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony or violent crime for the murder of 33-year-old Paul Lee at the Johnston Square Apartments located on the 500 block of East Preston Street on Nov. 3, 2024.
Epps was initially charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, reckless endangerment, handgun on person and firearm possession with a felony conviction in connection to Lee’s murder. The remaining charges were not prosecuted.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles H. Dorsey III sentenced Epps to life, suspending all but 50 years Epps will serve 20 years concurrently for firearm use in a felony or violent crime with five years of supervised probation.
According to court documents, video footage and audio recordings captured a verbal argument between Epps and Lee. As the argument escalated when Epps reportedly pointed a gun at Lee who then attempted to flee.
Epps fired three shots, two of which hit Lee, documents stated. Lee was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
After the incident, a witness claimed Epps had called and admitted to shooting someone. He allegedly told the witness that he was too old for jail. The same witness told police that Epps was contemplating committing suicide on the West Baltimore railroad tracks.
A Baltimore State’s Attorney’s press release says Epps indicated the victim had been harassing him since he moved into the building. Epps said he had grown tired of the victim’s behavior and admitted grabbing his firearm, following Lee and shooting him.
The release offered hope the sentence provides a sense of justice and closure for Lee’s family.
