A Motions hearing was held on July 24, in the case of Keith Russell, 40 and Cordell Moore, 40 in gang-related murder-for-hire case before Judge Robert K. Taylor.
Russell faces 37 charges while Moore faces 41 charges for first-degree murder, attempted murder, multiple gun and gang affiliation offenses and conspiracy. They are both accused of participating in a criminal organization known as “The Enterprise”.
The organization reportedly helped Russell and Moore commit seven murders and other violent crimes for almost two years before they were caught by police.
The incident began in Oct. 2020 when Moore allegedly murdered David Reid, 32, in the 2400 block of East Preston Street. Over the next couple of months, members of The Enterprise allegedly stole and used a person’s identity to purchase a 2019 silver Honda Civic in California which was then driven to Maryland in July 2021.
Two months later on Sept. 21, 2021, the pair allegedly murdered Shabro Meredith, 29, in the 1800 block of North Smallwood Street before fleeing the scene and dumping the Civic in the 3800 block of Woodbine Avenue.
On Nov. 2, 2021, a white Ford Taurus was stolen and a month later, the pair drove that Taurus to the 1300 block of N. Gilmor Street where they are accused of fatally shooting Rashad Dendy, 31, before fleeing the scene. A short time after on Jan 28. 2022, they carjacked a man at gunpoint and stole his Nissan Rogue, according to police.
Then on Feb. 8, 2022, the Taurus was seen in connection to the murder of Tyree Davis, 26, in the 1200 block of N. Fremont Avenue. After the murder, the pair were said to abandon the car and light it on fire. Later that month they drove the Nissan Rogue to the 2200 block of W. North Avenue where the prosecutor said they attempted to kill two other men before fleeing the scene.
The prosecution cited other crimes in which the pair was involved.
On March 2, 2022, they reportedly shot and killed Tayvon Scott, 43, in the 1900 block of Ewald Avenue before fleeing the scene in the Nissan Rogue. Twenty-five days later, a Honda CR-V was stolen which is connected to an attempted murder on May 3, 2022 in the 700 block of West Baltimore Street.
Further, On May 12, 2022, the Rogue was connected to the murder of Yahmell Montague, 37, and his fiance, Angel Smith, 38 in the 300 block of E. 23rd street. They had abandoned the Nissan Rogue shortly after. Smith had been seven months pregnant and the baby survived.
On June 13, 2022, another Honda CR-V was carjacked. The following day, Russell allegedly crashed into another car in an attempt to evade police where the vehicle then went off the road then on the wrong side of the road.
The first motion presented by the state was for a closed trial which was denied by Judge Taylor.
Their next motion was to impose stricter safeguards on hard-copy case documents after it was discovered documents were uploaded in a YouTube video that has been taken down. Prosecutors said there is an investigation on how the documents became public.
Judge Taylor questioned defense attorneys Brandon Taylor, who represents Moore, and Natalie Finegar, who represents Russell, about how they store discovery. Both said they keep the materials on USB drives that they stay in their possession. The state acknowledged they were the only party with hard copies of the documents.
Judge Taylor ruled that, until trial, documents should not be in hard-copy form in order to keep this a fair trial for both parties.
A trial date will be set during another motion hearing in Sept.
