Attorney General Three Men Indicted in January 2020 Killings of Brothers in Baltimore

[Editor]

BALTIMORE (February 15, 2022) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced the indictments of three defendants in the killings of two brothers, Cordelle and Cornelius Bruce of Baltimore in January of 2020. The defendants are 21-year-old Christopher Brown; 22-year-old Daran Horton; and 27-year-old Jimmy Murphy of Baltimore. The charges include first-degree murder, arson, and firearm-related counts.

On January 14, 2020, Cordelle Bruce was shot and killed in the 1100 block of E. Belvedere Avenue in Baltimore City. His brother, Cornelius Bruce, was found six days later on January 20, in a burning vehicle in the 2800 block of St. Lo Drive in Baltimore City. It was determined that Cornelius had been shot and killed prior to his body being burned.

The investigation revealed that Cordelle Bruce was at The Alameda Shopping Center in the 5600 block of The Alameda with Christopher Brown and Daran Horton prior to the murder. During that time, a verbal disagreement occurred between Cordelle Bruce and Brown, Horton, and their associates about a botched marijuana sale. Soon after leaving the shopping center, Brown, Horton, and another individual hunted Cordelle Bruce down in the 1100 block of Belvedere Avenue and shot and killed him.

In the days after Cordelle Bruce’s murder, investigators learned that Cornelius Bruce, Jimmy Murphy, and an unknown individual seeking to avenge Cordelle’s murder, conducted a retaliatory shooting that resulted in Cornelius Bruce being shot and killed by Jimmy Murphy. In an attempt to cover up the shooting, Murphy set a vehicle ablaze with Cornelius Bruce’s body inside.

Investigators are seeking the whereabouts of Daran Horton who is currently a fugitive. Horton is a black male, with black hair and brown eyes, weighing approximately 200 lbs. and standing 5’5” tall. He is known to frequent the Alameda Shopping Center. ATF Baltimore is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Horton. Anyone with information is asked to contact ATF at 888-ATF-TIPS or ATFtips@atf.gov.

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD), and the Organized Crime Unit of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

“Two more young men have been murdered. The indictments charge three other young men, Mr. Brown, Mr. Horton and Mr. Murphy with homicide in retaliation for a beef about drugs,” said Attorney General Frosh. “It is tragic to witness the likely waste of 5 young lives due to gun violence, but we are grateful to the hard work of our law enforcement partners that led to these indictments and who protect our communities at risk to themselves.”

“Individuals making the fatal decision to retaliate against others for their actions, perceived slights, or disagreements is a persistent issue surrounding violent crime in Baltimore,” said ATF Baltimore Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. “ATF and our partners will continue to work tirelessly to hold those accountable who are responsible for causing chaos and harm in Baltimore’s communities. If anyone has information about where Daran Horton is, contact us so investigators can bring him into custody to face these charges.”

“The Baltimore Police Department would like to thank the ATF, Maryland Attorney General’s Office and our homicide detectives for their continued hard work and dedication in solving cases. We hope this indictment brings some peace to the family and justice to the community,” said Commissioner Michael Harrison. “We will all continue to work together to solve cases, make arrests and hold those responsible for criminal behavior to account.”

In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Frosh thanked Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Baltimore Field Division of the ATF, Commissioner Michael S. Harrison of the BPD as well as their agents and detectives who worked on these cases. Attorney General Frosh also thanked Organized Crime Chief Katie Dorian and Assistant Attorneys General Krystle Sanders and Theresa Morse who are prosecuting the cases. Attorney General Frosh also thanked State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Marilyn Mosby.

A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until the State proves the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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[DaSDGuy]

“It is tragic to witness the likely waste of 5 young lives due to gun violence".

It wasn't gun violence you nimrod. It was about drugs and a complete lack of a moral conscience from all five criminals. Maybe their parents should get a medal and state compensation since they did such a good job raising them.

 

[stgislander]

In the days after Cordelle Bruce’s murder, investigators learned that Cornelius Bruce, Jimmy Murphy, and an unknown individual seeking to avenge Cordelle’s murder, conducted a retaliatory shooting that resulted in Cornelius Bruce being shot and killed by Jimmy Murphy. In an attempt to cover up the shooting, Murphy set a vehicle ablaze with Cornelius Bruce’s body inside.

Let that sink in for a moment. Cornelius was taken out by friendly fire.

 

[Monello]

I'm sure this violence was planned by a group of parents that spoke up at school board meetings.

 

[Editor]

Baltimore Man Seeking to Avenge the Murder of Cordelle Bruce Convicted on Multiple Charges, Including Attempted First-Degree Murder

BALTIMORE, MD (March 10, 2023) – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced guilty verdicts in an arson and murder-related case involving Jimmy Murphy. After a five-day jury trial before the Honorable Judge John Addison Howard, of the Baltimore City Circuit Court, jurors found Murphy, 28, of Baltimore, guilty of conspiring to commit first degree murder and the attempted murder of Christopher Brown on January 20, 2020. Murphy was also convicted of second-degree arson and the altering of physical evidence, both of human remains and a Ford F-150 pick-up truck. Judge Howard will sentence Murphy in July.

On January 20, 2020, Murphy, along with Cornelius Bruce set out to seek revenge against Christopher Brown for the January 14, 2020 murder of Cordelle Bruce, who is the brother of Cornelius Bruce. Murphy and Cornelius Bruce drove a black Ford F-150, rented by Cornelius Bruce, to the 1000 Block of Reverdy Road where they found Christopher Brown and began shooting at him. During the shooting, a bullet meant for Christopher Brown, struck Cornelius Bruce, killing him. In an attempt to cover up his actions, Murphy then drove the Ford F-150 with Cornelius Bruce’s body inside to an abandoned field in the 2800 Block of Saint Lo Drive. The Baltimore City Fire Department responded to the field where they found the F-150 ablaze. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters found the body of Cornelius Bruce inside the charred remnants of the vehicle. Just prior to the fire being set, Murphy was captured on video at a gas station, located just blocks away from the scene of the fire, filling up a red gas can. It was later determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner that Cornelius Bruce died as the result of a single gunshot wound.

The investigation was led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, the Baltimore City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ Crime Gun Enforcement Team, Task Force-Group VII, the Baltimore City Fire Department, and the Howard County Fire Department.

“I pledged to the people of Maryland that the Office of Attorney General would play an active role in safeguarding our communities against crime, and that includes bringing to justice the most violent offenders” said Attorney General Brown. “The investigators and prosecutors in the Organized Crime Unit are highly trained and skilled, and we are determined to focus on disrupting and eliminating the gun violence associated with the drug trade in our neighborhoods. Two people lost their lives, and several others are behind bars, all over a disagreement about drugs. No one wins when individuals decide to engage in extra-judicial retaliation.”

“Acting on vendettas has disastrous results, ensuring the violent cycle of retaliation never ends,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby. “The next time someone in Baltimore wants to retaliate, I hope they think of this case and ask themselves if it is worth it. ATF’s strong partnership with Baltimore Police Department and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office ensures individuals using guns and arson to harm others will be held responsible for those crimes.”

In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Brown thanked Organized Crime Chief Katie Dorian, and Assistant Attorneys General Krystle Sanders and Megan Greene, who prosecuted the case. The Attorney General also thanked Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison and Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Baltimore Field Office Toni M. Crosby, the Baltimore City Fire Department, and the Howard County Fire Department for their partnership in this investigation. Attorney General Brown also thanked State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Ivan Bates.