Teen Facing 38 Charges to Stand Trial Late September

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland set a late September trial date for teenage defendant Brendon Lee during a June 13 reception court hearing.

Two days prior, counsel had unsuccessfully moved to transfer jurisdiction to the juvenile court, but Judge Robert K. Taylor ultimately denied the request.

Lee, 18, faces 38 total charges for allegedly opening fire at nine people in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood last April. His charges include nine counts each of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, felony firearm use, and use of an assault weapon with a magazine, as well as several other firearm-related violations. Lee was prohibited from possessing a firearm at the time of the incident, due both to a prior disqualifying crime and his juvenile status as a 17-year-old.

Charging documents state that on April 8, 2024, at approximately 6:07 p.m., ShotSpotter alerted Western District officers to possible gunfire in the 1800 block of N. Mount Street. Upon arrival, officers located 16 fired 9mm cartridge casings, a pair of green pants with black strings, and two firearms.

One firearm – a black Polymer80 handgun with a threaded barrel and muzzle protector, laser attachment and 20-round extended magazine – was later linked to Lee through firearms analyses, Lee’s social media posts, and photographs recovered from his cellphone. Officers also located a .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun across the street from the targeted block.

Detectives obtained surveillance footage capturing the shooting, as well as the suspect’s actions prior to and after its occurrence. Lee’s phone gallery also produced photographs of himself wearing clothes said to be identical to the shooter, who entered the incident area in the recovered green pants and emerged in a different pair. A second unidentified suspect was also seen in the footage, shooting from where officers recovered the Sig Sauer handgun.

Further examination of Lee’s cellphone revealed messages asking a contact to let his hair out. Lee’s hair was in braids at the time of the incident. In messages with another contact, Lee was seen describing how he recently lost a firearm, drugs and a vehicle. Lee’s vehicle was impounded a few days prior to the incident for drug-related reasons.

A search and seizure warrant was executed on Lee’s residence, and investigators recovered a pair of shoes seemingly identical to those worn by the shooter in the video, along with several other items that were taken in for processing.

Lee, who is represented by defense attorney Judit K. Otvos, is slated to return to court Sept. 25 for a four-day jury trial before Judge Paul J. Cucuzzella.