Dog Fight Murder Defendant Sentenced to Life Plus 35 Years

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A 39-year-old murder defendant was sentenced to life plus 35 years in prison for killing a man after a neighborhood dog fight got out of hand on Jan. 13, 2023. The sentencing took place in front of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Videtta A. Brown.

Tyyea Gee was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction on April 26 for the death of 37-year-old Ronnie Gibson.

In court June 11, Gee received a life sentence for first-degree murder. Additionally, he was sentenced to a consecutive 20 years, with the first five years without the possibility of parole, for firearm use in a felony violent crime, and a consecutive 15 years, with the first five years without the possibility of parole, for firearm possession with a felony conviction.

Gibson’s family attended the sentencing. His sister expressed the profound grief the incident has caused, and the senselessness of her brother’s death. “[Gibson] has been taken away because of a dog fight. That does not make any sense,” she said.

Prosecutors argued that Gee, prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous robbery conviction, violated his probation by chasing down and shooting Gibson. Judge Brown recalled before ruling that the altercation stemmed from a dispute between Gee’s girlfriend and Gibson’s girlfriend over a dog fight. The conflict escalated when Gibson intervened, leading to the fatal confrontation on the 800 block of Stoll Street.

Gee’s motion for a new trial was denied by Judge Brown, who asserted that the jury had already reached a decision. Judge Brown noted that Gee’s girlfriend remained silent throughout the trial and did not appear for Gee’s sentencing Tuesday.