A new jury was selected in the trial of Braxton Day, 40, on June 16 after a mistrial was declared in his case earlier the same morning due to a juror’s misconduct.
The court learned Tuesday morning that a juror had researched the case and told fellow members of the panel, “The defendant is cooked.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the court heard opening statements and testimonies regarding the shooting death of Bryant Breland, 42.
Day, whose case is being heard before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong, is charged with manslaughter, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and firearm possession without a serial number in connection to Breland’s death.
Witnesses testified that Day and Breland were outside a Family Dollar store located on the 600 block of Cherry Hill Road on May 31, 2025 before the shooting occurred, and video footage pulled by detectives allegedly showed Breland lunging for Day, whose back was turned. Breland was then shot.
Defense attorney Maureen O’Leary opened by calling the shooting a matter of self-defense, contending that Breland attacked Day first and made the defendant “fear for his life.”
Day was later captured on video fleeing the scene and allegedly sliding a firearm underneath a nearby car in the shopping center’s parking lot.
The trial is set to continue June 17.
