‘Brazen, Bold, Shameless,’ Prosecutor Says During Opening Statements in Murder Trial for Mervo High School Student

By Hannah Rainer [former] - September 22, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

The afternoon of Sept. 20 saw a heavily packed courtroom as the prosecution and defense contentiously began their arguments on a murder case involving two high school students.

Nizah Daniels, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, possession of a firearm as a minor and carrying a handgun for allegedly shooting 17-year-old Jeremiah Brodgen. 

“Brazen, bold, shameless,” began the prosecution in her description of the 18-year-old defendant.  

The prosecution told a story that focused on the premeditation that Daniels illustrated on the day of the crime and the hours leading up to the fatal shooting by mentioning the weapon used, cell phone data and testimony from the medical examiner. 

When the time arrived for the defense to begin their statements, defense attorney Ronald S. Harris narrated a similar story of the defendant’s actions leading up to the moment of the shooting for the jury, only differing on the details of the altercation that occurred between Brodgen and Daniels.

Harris described how the evidence provided by camera footage showed an argument between the two in a parking lot. However, he said the footage, as well as additional DNA evidence and cell phone data, directly conflicted with the prosecution’s suspicions. 

“They talked about text messages; however, not one indicated that he went there to target Jeremiah Brodgen,” Harris said. 

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on Sept. 2, 2022, Daniels left his high school and proceeded to walk to Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School on the 3500 block of Hillen Road. At the time, school was in the process of being dismissed.

The pair reportedly met in the parking lot and engaged in a verbal altercation, which resulted in Daniels pulling out a handgun and shooting Brodgen three times. Daniels then fled the scene, but was apprehended a few blocks down by Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers.

The trial is slated to continue on Sept. 21.