Two men charged in a string of robberies culminating in a murder faced Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn in Reception Court hearing on Oct. 9 to schedule next steps in their case.
Mekhi Ny’Trell Clark, 20, faces two counts of first-degree murder, one count of armed carjacking, one count of attempted carjacking, one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, two counts of use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, one count of attempted-first degree murder, one count of attempted-second degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, one count of armed robbery, and one count of possession of a firearm as a minor. He is being tried as an adult on 15 counts.
Brent Ezekiel Moyd-Kane, Clark’s 16-year-old co-defendant, is accused of six counts, including attempted first-degree murder, incurred in the same infractions that occurred in the early morning hours of May 5 and May 7.
According to court documents, on May 5, a 2020 Toyota Sienna minivan was reported stolen on the 3400 block of Royston Avenue. That vehicle is said to be used in a string of violent offenses two days later starting at 2:14 a.m.
That’s when police say CitiWatch cameras spotted three suspects approaching a victim on the 600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue – one of them pointing a gun. During the assault, the victim’s backpack was stolen.
Less than an hour later, on the 3100 block of Oakland Avenue, a suspect emerged from the same vehicle pointing a gun with a red laser at the victim and forced him to the ground. During the encounter, the suspects reportedly stole the victim’s cellphone and a wallet with $150 cash before locking the victim inside the trunk of his vehicle and fleeing.
Just five minutes later, a couple in a parked car on the 4400 block of Fairview Avenue was reportedly accosted by the same group. However, when the pair was ordered out of the vehicle, they refused and attempted to drive away. As a result, police say, the suspects “fired multiple rounds into the vehicle,” killing Jamal Ferguson. His death was ruled a homicide.
During the investigation, technicians recovered cartridge casings linked to a .380 automatic handgun and a 9mm Luger allegedly used in the shooting.
During their search for the assailants, police were able to match surveillance footage, the time of the offenses and victim statements to the minivan and ultimately to the “continuous sequence” committed by the same people.
Mining cell phone records, police were able to link a user who traveled in a pattern consistent with the crimes. When the stolen Sienna was recovered, police say they found a “Cool Blue Gatorade Bottle” from which they were able to create a genetic profile of a woman already in an enforcement database. She was identified as Ironna Thomas, 17, and she has also been charged with the offenses as an adult.
Meanwhile, a probe of Thomas’ phone led to Clark as an alleged co-conspirator in a message stating “Khi with us” – an apparent reference to Clark’s first name. In addition, police were in contact with an anonymous witness who claimed that Moyd-Kane confessed to the murder.
Police also say they recovered an Apple cellphone allegedly associated with Moyd-Kane with location data consistent with the crime spree. In particular, a surveillance photo of a hooded sweatshirt consistent with a picture on the device. Of note, the phone was turned off during the spree that, in all, lasted one hour and 59 minutes.
According to investigators, digital information led police to another defendant, Tyshawn Randle, 17. Recovered pictures are said to show Randle taken shortly after the shooting.
“In conclusion, investigators cited evidence that Moyd-Kane possessed and used a
cellular telephone that photographed a hooded sweatshirt resembling clothing worn by a
suspect in the Pennsylvania Avenue robbery,” said the police report.
During the brief court appearance, the prosecution asked for a motion hearing to join Clark’s and Moyd-Kane’s proceedings. Further, she indicated that relevant evidence had been turned over to the defense awaiting technical information, including ballistic and DNA results.
Speaking on behalf of the defendants, attorney Angela Shelton had no objection to moving the case forward.
Judge Phinn scheduled a motion hearing before Judge Charles H. Dorsey III on Dec. 21.
