Man Sentenced to Life Plus 35 Years Behind Bars for Shooting Victim Who Accidentally Bumped Into Him

By Andrew Michaels - May 24, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

“I hope you never get a taste of freedom for the rest of your life.”

So the son of homicide victim Correll McQueen addressed his father’s convicted killer on May 24 during the defendant’s sentencing in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

McQueen’s mother and son both reflected on the loss of their loved one during the proceeding before Judge Althea M. Handy. Meanwhile, convicted defendant Nathan Brown remained slouched in his chair at the trial table alongside his attorney, Benjamin Charlton, where he awaited sentencing for charges of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction.

The prosecutor introduced McQueen’s mother who told the court she forgave the 33-year-old defendant and encouraged him to follow the Lord’s path as he moves forward. Sitting at the witness stand, McQueen’s son said his father’s murder was “senseless.”

“There are no winners or losers today,” the victim’s mother said earlier in the proceeding. “Everybody lost. We really lost somebody special.”

“This was clearly a premeditated murder with no justification,” the prosecutor argued, recommending a sentence of life plus 35 years, the first 10 years without parole, for the aforementioned charges.

Prior to sentencing, Charlton cited that Brown was never given an offer or opportunity to plead guilty before trial and requested a sentence of life, suspending all but 40 years.

Judge Handy said she could not fathom why Brown shot McQueen, which she noted occurred because the victim accidentally bumped into the defendant inside a liquor store on the 4100 block of Frederick Avenue on April 6, 2023. The prosecutor previously said at Brown’s trial that this triggered Brown’s “hot temper.”

The judge approved of the prosecution’s recommendation, sentencing Brown to life for first-degree murder, a consecutive 20 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime and a consecutive 15 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm possession with a felony conviction. Brown must also register as a gun offender.