In a brief hearing before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland on March 21 a new court date was set for Cordell Moore, 38, and Keith Russell, 39.
The codefendants are charged with a chain of murder-for-hire homicides, non-fatal shootings, and carjackings dating back to 2020. Russell faces 37 charges and Moore 41.
Both are accused of participating in a criminal organization, first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, as well as other firearm and carjacking charges, in relation to the deaths of at least seven people across Maryland. Six of the murders occurred in Baltimore City.
Moore was accused in October 2020 of murdering David Reid, 32, in the 2400 block of East Preston Street. In May 2022, the pair was alleged to have shot and killed Angel Smith, who was seven months pregnant, and her fiancé, Yahmell Montague. The baby survived.
“The ongoing multi-year investigation into this violent criminal enterprise has been one of our office’s most significant efforts in our continued fight to bring justice to Baltimore,” said State’s Attorney Ivan Bates in a release last October. The suspects allegedly used stolen or carjacked vehicles to execute many of their victims, according to the release.
Judge Copeland set a pre-trial conference in the case for Sept. 5
