Reisterstown Road Homicide Defendant Sentenced in Third Trial

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Ronald A. Silkworth sentenced a 41-year-old murder defendant to 15 years in prison on May 29.

Wednesday’s hearing was the culmination of Byron Erin Lewis’ third trial for a June 6, 2021, incident where, according to documents from the District Court of Maryland, Lewis shot 32-year-old Shammarh Jenkins six times on the 2000 block of Reisterstown Road. Lewis appeared with his attorney James Sweeting III.

The previous two mistrials in April and September of 2023 were both in connection with the same incident. In those trials, Lewis was charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and two counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction.

Before the sentencing, the prosecutors had the father of the victim speak about the crime. He said that his years of bonding with his son were cut short because of Lewis and that every trial has felt like his son was being killed over and over again.

Lewis also spoke about how he was tired of reliving the incident in three trials. He said that the incident was in self defense, saying that he was fighting for his life then and also fighting for his life now.

The court ruled that Lewis will serve 15 years total, 10 for manslaughter and a consecutive five years for firearm use in a felony violent crime, the first five years without the possibility of parole. Upon release, he will serve five years of probation and be required to register as a gun offender with the Baltimore Police Department.