BALTIMORE, MD (May 17, 2023) – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced the sentencing of Christopher Brown, 22, of Baltimore and Daran Horton, 23, of Baltimore, for the January 2020 murder of Cordelle Wayne Bruce Jr. The Honorable Judge Paul E. Alpert of the Baltimore City Circuit Court sentenced Brown to life in prison and Horton to life in prison with all but 45 years suspended.
On January 14, 2020, Cordelle Bruce was shot and killed in the 1100 block of E. Belvedere Avenue in Baltimore. The investigation revealed that Bruce, Brown, and Horton were at The Alameda Shopping Center in Baltimore. During that time, a botched marijuana sale occurred, after which Bruce left the shopping center on foot. Shortly thereafter, Brown and Horton followed Bruce in Horton’s vehicle to the 1100 block of Belvedere Avenue and shot and killed Bruce.
The investigation was led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) Crime Gun Enforcement Team.
Attorney General Brown recognized the work of Criminal Division Chief Katie Dorian and Assistant Attorney General Krystle Sanders, who prosecuted the case. The Attorney General thanked the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department and the ATF Baltimore Field Office for their partnership and work on this investigation as well as Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison and Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Baltimore Field Office Toni Crosby for their leadership. Attorney General Brown also thanked Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates.
On January 14, 2020, Cordelle Bruce was shot and killed in the 1100 block of E. Belvedere Avenue in Baltimore. The investigation revealed that Bruce, Brown, and Horton were at The Alameda Shopping Center in Baltimore. During that time, a botched marijuana sale occurred, after which Bruce left the shopping center on foot. Shortly thereafter, Brown and Horton followed Bruce in Horton’s vehicle to the 1100 block of Belvedere Avenue and shot and killed Bruce.
The investigation was led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) Crime Gun Enforcement Team.
Attorney General Brown recognized the work of Criminal Division Chief Katie Dorian and Assistant Attorney General Krystle Sanders, who prosecuted the case. The Attorney General thanked the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department and the ATF Baltimore Field Office for their partnership and work on this investigation as well as Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison and Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Baltimore Field Office Toni Crosby for their leadership. Attorney General Brown also thanked Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates.