Jalen William Brawner, 27, is charged with first-degree murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree assault as well as conspiracy to assault in the brutal beating of Marcus LeVon Brown, 37. The case is being heard before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Hope Tipton on Nov. 4.
According to the police documents, during the early morning of May 26, 2024, Brown entered a Royal Farms store on the 1500 block of Russell Street and withdrew cash from an ATM. When he left he became involved in an argument with two suspects near the store’s gas pumps.
As a result Brown sustained significant head trauma and was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Brown was pronounced brain dead on May 29, 2024.
The prosecutor informed the jury that Nov. 4 was Brown’s birthday and that he would have turned 40. Further, the prosecution told jurors the case is not about who committed the crime, but rather the degree of the offense.
The state argued that the evidence clearly shows Brown was assaulted and robbed, as Brown had gone to withdraw cash and that the money was later missing.
Defense attorney Brandon Taylor argued that Brawner is being charged with crimes he did not commit and maintained that the evidence will fail to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
According to the defense, Brown entered Brawner’s vehicle without permission. Taylor told jurors that when Brawner discovered a stranger inside his car, a physical altercation occurred. He further claimed the evidence would show that Brawner was dragged across the hood of his vehicle as the fight escalated.
Taylor also disputed allegations that Brawner fled the scene, stating that he remained there for several minutes before heading across the street to Baltimore’s Horseshoe Casino.
According to Taylor, multiple people checked on Brown after the incident because he remained seated on a curb. Taylor criticized the police investigation, stating that the lead detective did not interview Brown or other witnesses.
“He didn’t speak to anyone, but he’s charging this man with murder,” Taylor told the jury.
The state’s first witness, an assistant medical examiner, testified that Brown’s cause of death was multiple blunt-force injuries to the head and ruled the manner of death a homicide. The examiner further documented injuries to Brown’s right shoulder, both hips, both elbows, his knee, leg, and tongue.
Although the injuries were not immediately life-threatening, testimony indicated they ultimately caused irreversible brain damage due to lack of oxygen. The medical examiner also testified that Tylenol and seizure medication were the only substances found in Brown’s body.
The trial is scheduled to continue Nov. 5.
