Judge Calls Defendants’ Actions ‘A Night of Terror’ During Sentencing

By Andrew Michaels - September 12, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Kiray Walker and his two co-defendants concocted “a night of terror” on Nov. 14, 2019, according to Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Videtta Brown, when they fatally shot Aryanna James and Courtney Richardson and committed multiple robberies across the city and Baltimore County.

This “senseless and insane” night, as described by Judge Brown, was at the forefront of the court proceedings on Sept. 12 as she sentenced Walker, 21, to two life sentences, two 40-year sentences, two 20-year sentences—each with the first five years without parole—two 25-year sentences, and a 30-year sentence, all of which will run consecutively to each other and with his current sentence in Baltimore County.

On that evening, nearly three years ago, Walker, Malik Brooks, and Devon Bynum committed a series of armed robberies and carjackings between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. in addition to the murder of James and Richardson who were standing on the 1900 block of McHenry Street. James was declared dead on the scene, and Richardson died shortly after arriving to Shock Trauma.

Bynum later accepted a plea of 20 years for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Walker and Brooks were both scheduled for sentencing on Monday; however, Judge Brown said Brooks’ sentencing was rescheduled to Oct. 18 after a transportation snafu.

Prior to the sentencing, the judge listened to Richardson and James’ family members tearfully share how their loved ones’ deaths will impact them for the rest of their lives.

“I sat through your trial, and it was like living through the horror that occurred on Nov. 14,” Richardson’s aunt said to Walker, who looked forward across the courtroom. He was surrounded by eight law enforcement officers.

“It’s not fair my daughter lost her life and you just lose your freedom,” James’ mother said later in the proceedings.

When making his recommendations for Walker’s sentence, the prosecutor said it was “hard for me to wrap my head around” the trio’s actions from a carjacking to robberies to multiple murders and later another carjacking and more robberies.

“There’s no way they didn’t know there would be consequences if they were caught,” said the prosecutor whose recommendations were heavily reflected in Judge Brown’s final ruling.

Defense attorney Catherine Flynn acknowledged that this incident “brought [Walker’s] family to their knees as well” after the defendant’s grandmother told the court that “everything is still a shock.” Defense counsel also recommended Walker take part in the Patuxent Youth Offender program for treatment.

“You erased your future,” Judge Brown told Walker, adding that she wanted to save the program for someone who would benefit from it.

Following the sentencing, the judge noted that Walker would have to serve 50 percent of his sentence before “there was any suggestion of parole.”

Read more stories on this case, here.