Reisterstown Road homicide defendant convicted in third trial

By Ashley Oiler, Stephanie Ho – May 29, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

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

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

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

Before sentencing, prosecutors had the crime victim's father speak. He said his years of bonding with his son were cut short because of Lewis and that each trial made him feel like his son was being killed over and over again.

Lewis also spoke about how tired he was of reliving the incident over the course of three trials. He said the incident was an act of self-defense, saying he was fighting for his life then and is also fighting for his life now.

The court ruled that Lewis would serve a total of 15 years, 10 for manslaughter and five consecutive years for use of a firearm in commission of a violent crime, with the first five years without the possibility of parole. Upon his release, he will serve five years of probation and must register as an armed offender with the Baltimore Police Department.

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