Lawyer Will Appeal 15 Year Sentence for ‘Squeegee Boy’ Convicted of Manslaughter

By Amna Syed [former] , Baltimore Witness staff - October 24, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Defense attorney Warren Brown says he will appeal the Oct. 23 sentencing of 16-year-old Tavon Scott, convicted of manslaughter in the so-called “squeegee boy” case. Brown says Scott should have been tried in juvenile court, not as adult.

In a packed courtroom on Monday as she was passing the sentence, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer said, “My heart goes out to the victim’s family… There are no winners here.” Judge Schiffer ordered Scott to serve 15 years in prison — 10 for manslaughter and five years for firearm use in a felony violent crime. He will be eligible for parole in five years with five years of supervised probation.

For the next two years, Scott will be in the custody of Baltimore’s Youth Detention Center (YDC).

The details of the case have attracted national attention. On July 7, 2022, the youth was part of a group washing windows for tips at the busy intersection of Light and Conway streets near Camden Yards. Known as “squeegee boys” they are regular part of the Baltimore scene — some praise them as street entrepreneurs, others complain they threaten motorists.

However, what happened on that day was anything but ordinary. According to court documents, Scott, then 14, got into an altercation with motorist Timothy Reynolds, 48. The confrontation escalated, and Reynolds got out of his car wielding a baseball bat.

When at least six or seven boys met the victim, he began walking away, but as the boys followed him, Reynolds started swinging. Scott, one of the group, was accused of then taking a gun from a shared backpack and shooting Reynolds five times.

On July 27, Scott was convicted of manslaughter and related gun charges. The defense claimed the youth acted in self-defense.

At the sentencing, Reynolds’ family members described the impact of losing their loved one. His wife said their three kids “lost their best friend and their biggest supporter.” Challenging the notion of self-defense she said, “It was a cold, calculated murder,” and Reynolds had a bat in his car because he was on his way to his son’s baseball game.

“How could someone do something like that? How could someone be so evil?” Reynold’s nine-year-old daughter asked referring to the Scott.

Reynolds’ sister told the court, “My family’s lives have been shattered.”

Without directly apologizing, Scott told the court he is struggling with himself everyday, and, “Judge, I hope you see my sincerity.”

Scott’s mother said he has calmed down a lot, and that, “He’s not a bad child, just misunderstood.” His grandmother said, “No one wanted this situation… He [Scott] made a safety decision.”

Whatever happens with the appeal, Brown predicted that the youth should be out in “10 years flat.”