A Baltimore man was acquitted on June 12 of all counts in the murder of 37-year-old Troy Kavanaugh, who was fatally shot in Southeast Baltimore last February.
Jurors reached their verdict the same day attorneys rested their cases before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Alan C. Lazerow. The June trial followed a mistrial last November, after a member of Kavanaugh’s family erupted in an outburst during testimony.
At trial, prosecutors claimed surveillance footage, witness testimonies and physical evidence tied the defendant, 34-year-old Sean Karim Lloyd, to the shooting. Investigators had responded to the 2500 block of E. Biddle Street on the afternoon of Feb. 2, 2025 to find Kavanaugh suffering from gunshot wounds in the back of his black Nissan Altima.
Kavanaugh was pronounced deceased approximately one hour later at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and medical examiners ruled his death a homicide caused by gunshot wounds. Lloyd was arrested over a month later, on March 21, 2025.
Defense attorney Christopher Purpura challenged a key witness’ credibility and argued investigators failed to produce significant physical or forensic evidence to incriminate his client.
Jurors ultimately sided with the defense, acquitting Lloyd of first-degree murder, firearm use, having a handgun on his person and possessing a firearm with a disqualifying prior conviction.
