Defendant Accepts Guilty Plea Following Victim’s Unrelated Murder

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Brian Bradshaw, 19, pleaded guilty to firearm possession as a minor and having a handgun on his person before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Levi S. Zaslow on June 12.

Bradshaw was initially charged with two counts of first- and second-degree assault and one count each of felony firearm use, having a handgun on his person, reckless endangerment, possession of firearm as a minor, and discharging a firearm in connection to a family dispute.

The incident occurred Oct. 28, 2024 in the 1100 block of N. Luzerne Avenue, among Bradshaw, his mother, and the victim, 31-year-old Donte A. Bazemore. Bazemore and Bradshaw’s mother were reportedly in a romantic relationship at the time of the incident.

Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers were dispatched to Johns Hopkins Hospital the day of the incident for a reported walk-in shooting victim, who was later identified as Bazemore. Bazemore told officers he engaged in a tussle with Bradshaw because “he could no longer accept the names [Bradshaw] called his mother.” Bazemore suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his left middle thigh.

Bradshaw, who was originally set to stand trial on July 1, accepted a plea agreement during the hearing. The deal came just ahead of the June 12 deadline for speedy trial and followed complications in the case after Bazemore was killed in an unrelated homicide in December 2024.

The prosecution noted the difficulty of moving forward with the trial after Bazemore’s death, and mentioned that Bazemore and Bradshaw’s mother had previously expressed their desire to avoid trial.

As part of the plea, Bradshaw, who has no prior convictions, will serve no additional jail time beyond what he has already served. The agreement includes three years of supervised probation, with conditions aimed at rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.

Within one month, Bradshaw must enroll in a high school or GED program, an anger management course, and a community reentry program that will support his mental health, job training and educational development.

The court dismissed the additional charges. Judge Zaslow warned that Bradshaw must take his probation seriously, as any violation could result in incarceration. Defense attorney Maureen O’Leary must file a status report on July 11.

Bradshaw is expected to return to court Dec. 15 for a status conference to monitor his compliance with his probation.