‘My Son Died so Future People Can Live,’ Victim’s Mother Says at Killer’s Sentencing

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

At the sentencing of their sons’ killer, the mothers of cousins Darrin Stewart and Brian Palmer said they spent many sleepless nights questioning why their sons had to die.

Stewart, 33, and Palmer, 26, were both shot and killed on Aug. 5, 2021, on the 4300 block of Flowertown Road after being lured to the area for a drug deal by convicted co-defendants Montay Shuler and Raekwon Griffin.

Griffin, 22, was sentenced to life plus 25 years, without parole for the first 10 years, in December 2023.

On Jan. 23, Shuler and his defense attorney, James Johnston, appeared for Shuler’s sentencing before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams. Holding back tears, Stewart’s mother stood beside the prosecutor and proudly talked about her son’s various accomplishments in music and photography and his dreams that were cut short.

Stewart’s mother said she wished the events that unfolded that terrible day had done so differently and that the co-defendants and victims could have talked things through.

“I wish in my heart and soul that I wasn’t jealous and envious of [Shuler’s] family,” she added. “They get to see him. They get to be with him. They get to talk to him.”

Since the deaths, Palmer’s mother said she came to the realization that “my son, Brian Christopher Palmer, died so future people can live,” referring to Shuler being put behind bars.

Shuler briefly addressed the court and apologized to the victims’ families, saying, “I wish I went straight home that day.”

At the conclusion of the proceeding, Judge Williams sentenced Shuler to 10 years for each of the two counts of voluntarily manslaughter, a consecutive 20 years, the first five years without parole, for each of the two counts of firearm use in a felony or violent crime, a consecutive 10 years for armed robbery and a concurrent five years of illegal possession of a firearm.

His total sentence will be 70 years, the first 10 years without parole.