‘I’m Lucky to Be Alive,’ Says Victim at Brother’s Plea Hearing for 2022 Shooting Above Animal Hospital

By Racquel Bazos - August 30, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting |

Exactly one year after the 2022 incident, a 63-year-old defendant accepted a guilty plea and was sentenced in the shooting of his brother above Light Street Animal Hospital before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams on Aug. 29.

Bobby Trujillo shot his brother in the leg with a 12 gauge shotgun following a dispute over severance pay. 

His brother told the court from his wheelchair, “I’m lucky to be alive.”

He explained that he took his brother in after Bobby threatened their parents in New Mexico and allowed him to live above his veterinary practice at Light Street Animal Hospital on the 1600 block of Light Street for free for almost 20 years. But Bobby’s misconduct at the clinic caused the veterinarian to fire him on June 29, 2022. On Aug. 29, 2022, Bobby asked his brother for severance pay, which resulted in the argument that led to Bobby shooting him in the right tibia. Bobby also pointed a gun at a veterinary technician, who rendered aid to the victim after the shooting.

The former marathon runner has now endured eight surgeries and 10 blood transfusions, with two more surgeries still to come. 

The victim ended his statement by telling Bobby to consider his jail sentence his severance pay.

Bobby’s lawyer, Matthew Connell, said that though his client was indeed criminally responsible for the shooting, perhaps Bobby’s history of mental illness and possible developmental disabilities could be mitigating factors in Judge Williams’ sentencing decision. Connell said of the plea agreement, “This may be a life sentence.”

After pleading guilty, Bobby said his brother fired him because he told him he wanted to survey land he inherited. He additionally claimed that technicians at the animal hospital had put sugar in his car’s gas tank.

Trujillo’s total sentence is 60 years, suspending all but 30, the first five years without the possibility of parole and 10 years of supervised probation upon release. For the first-degree assault of his brother, Trujillo received a sentence of 25 years, suspending all but 20 years, with five years of supervised probation. For firearm use in a felony violent crime, Trujillo will serve a consecutive 20 years, suspending all but 10 years, the first five without the possibility of parole with five years of supervised probation upon release. For discharging firearms, he will serve one year concurrent to his assault sentence. For the second-degree assault of the veterinary technician, he was sentenced to time served beginning on Aug. 29, 2022. Upon release, Trujillo will also be required to register as a gun offender and stay away from the victim.

The prosecutor assigned to the case dropped Trujillo’s remaining charges of reckless endangerment and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to injure.