March Motions Hearing to Determine Length of Brooklyn Homes Shooting Trial

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

On Jan. 5, two 18-year-old defendants charged in the July 2023 mass shooting at Brooklyn Homes appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland to schedule a motions hearing.

Aaron Brown and Tristan Brian Jackson are each facing over 50 charges related to the shooting, including seven counts of attempted first- and second-degree murder, assault weapon or magazine use, rioting and various other firearms and assault charges. Neither are charged with the murders of 18-year-old Aaliyah Gonzalez and 20-year-old Kylis Fagbemi, who were killed during the incident.

The prosecutor explained to the court that three other codefendants, all juveniles, have been charged and are now awaiting transfer hearings to determine if they will be tried as adults.

Jackson’s November bid to stay in juvenile detention was denied.

Despite not yet knowing how many codefendants he would have to try, the prosecutor has already filed a motion to join all five codefendants’ cases into one trial.

Brown’s attorney Roya Hanna told the court she intended to oppose the motion. Amanda Savage, representing Jackson, found a date where all five defense attorneys could argue against the motion.

Judge Copeland scheduled the motion hearing for March 7 before Judge Jeffrey M. Geller.

On July 2, 2023, Baltimore Police Department officers responded to the 800 block of Gretna Court for multiple reports of a shooting. In addition to killing Gonzalez and Fagbemi, 30 people were shot during the attack on a south Baltimore block party.

After the last reported arrest related to the incident, Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said his office would work to “deliver justice for the victims and their families,” and “ensure that these acts of violence are met with swift and certain consequences.”

Follow this case