A Baltimore City jury convicted Idris Ramos of first-degree murder and use of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure on July 15 for the fatal stabbing of 39-year-old Tyrell Curtis.
The verdict was returned following a jury trial before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Michael A. DiPietro. Ramos is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 13.
According to charging documents, Baltimore Police responded to the 100 block of S. Broadway, where officers found Curtis suffering from a stab wound. He was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he later died.
Before trial, prosecutors offered Ramos a plea agreement to second-degree murder that included either a fixed 25-year sentence or a sentence of 20-to-30 years at the court’s discretion. Ramos rejected the offer and elected to proceed to trial.
In closing arguments, the state argued the evidence established that the killing was deliberate and premeditated. Prosecutors pointed to surveillance footage, DNA evidence and inconsistencies in Ramos’ testimony, arguing that Curtis was stabbed in the heart before collapsing outside a nearby 7-Eleven. Surveillance footage also allegedly showed Ramos in the area carrying a pocket knife before the stabbing.
Defense attorney Deborah Warner-Dennis argued detectives failed to fully investigate the case, questioned the credibility of a key prosecution witness because of a history of drug use, and noted that Ramos’ DNA was not found on the murder weapon. She also argued investigators overlooked other potential suspects.
Following deliberations, jurors found Ramos guilty of first-degree murder and use of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure.
