In the spring of 2022, a tragedy struck in Baltimore that claimed the life of 38-year-old Angel Morgan Heather Smith and her fiancé, Yahmell Montague. On the evening of May 12th, the couple was sitting in a parked vehicle in the 300 block of East 23rd Street when they were ambushed in a drive-by shooting. The hail of bullets left both with critical injuries.
First responders rushed Smith and Montague to a nearby hospital. Montague was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Smith, who was seven months pregnant, clung to life long enough for an emergency delivery of her baby girl. Shortly after giving birth, Angel Morgan Heather Smith also succumbed to her injuries. The newborn was left in critical condition, fighting for her life.
In the immediate aftermath, the Baltimore Police Department launched an intensive investigation into the murders that had shaken the community. Authorities believed two gunmen were responsible for the attack. A reward of up to $16,000 was offered for any information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators responsible for the deaths of the expectant couple.
For over two years, the case remained a painful open wound for the families and the city. Then, in October 2024, a major breakthrough was announced. Two men, Cornell Moore and Keith Russell, were indicted by a Baltimore City Grand Jury in connection with the murders of Angel Smith and Yahmell Montague. The indictment revealed that the couple was allegedly victims of a larger murder-for-hire enterprise. Moore and Russell face a litany of charges, including participation in a criminal gang and first-degree murder. As of early 2025, the complex legal proceedings to bring the accused to trial were underway, with court dates being scheduled to address the extensive list of charges against them.
