In the quiet neighborhood of Essex, Maryland, the life of 21-year-old Zeshaan Ali Toppa was tragically cut short on a Friday night in October. On October 9, 2020, Baltimore County police were called to the 500 block of Welbrook Road around 10 p.m. where they discovered Toppa deceased at the scene, having been shot in the upper body.
The investigation into the young man's death soon pointed to a drug-related robbery.
The violence of that evening shattered the calm of the residential area and left a family mourning the loss of a son. Authorities worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting, seeking justice for Zeshaan Ali Toppa.
Later that month, a break in the case came with the arrest of 18-year-old Keonta Adrian Skipwith from Laurel. On October 30, 2020, Baltimore County police announced that Skipwith had been taken into custody and was being held without bond in connection with Toppa's death. Law enforcement officials stated that they believed Skipwith shot and killed Toppa during the course of a robbery.
