Druid Heights Shooting Suspect Guilty of Murder, Weapons Charges

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Following the conclusion of his jury trial on Sept. 5, 31-year-old Joshua Austin was found guilty of murdering 21-year-old Tyrez Countess during a shooting incident in Druid Heights last December.

Austin was initially charged with first-degree murder and four firearm violations for killing Countess during a drug deal that occurred Dec. 27, 2024, on the 2100 block of Druid Hill Avenue. He was found guilty on all counts. Officers apprehended Austin on Jan. 20, nearly a month after the murder.

Austin testified during the trial that he shot Countess after the victim threatened him three separate times. He told the court he recalled hearing Countess say, “I don’t do no fighting, I’m gon’ put that thang on you,” and, “If you touch me, I’ll blow your f*cking face off.”

He claimed Countess was known to carry a gun on his person, and defense attorneys Arthur Baker and John Deros said Austin fired in self-defense. The prosecution noted Countess was unarmed at the time of the altercation. Austin later admitted during testimony that he felt “sad” learning his gunshots struck Countess.

Area surveillance footage that captured the incident showed Countess keeping his hands by his side and waving them in the air throughout the altercation, rather than reaching for a weapon.

Austin responded that the movements Countess made with his arms “could be throw-offs” or attempts at distraction. Deros noted that the incident escalated from an altercation to a shooting within a rapid span of 18 seconds.

“This thing blew up on him in a microsecond,” said Deros, emphasizing the short amount of response time afforded Austin.

The prosecution countered that Austin made no attempts to retreat from the altercation that would seem consistent with a self-defense response, and instead responded with violence.

“He could’ve done literally anything but what he did,” the prosecution said.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays presided over the trial.

Austin has yet to receive a sentencing date from the court.