On a cold February afternoon in 2020, the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Baltimore was shattered by a burst of gunfire that would leave two men dead and another wounded. Among the victims was Davon Stewart, a 41-year-old Black man, who was found with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest in the 800 block of Roundview Road. The incident, a grim triple shooting, also claimed the life of 28-year-old Detrell Garvin and left a third individual hospitalized with injuries.
The shooting took place
near an elementary and middle school, sending waves of fear and outrage through the community. In the aftermath, police began an investigation that would lead them to a suspect. Marquis Dixon, a 29-year-old man, was arrested and charged in connection with the death of Davon Stewart. The charges against him were serious, including first-degree murder, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.
The legal proceedings that followed painted a complex picture of the events that transpired on that tragic day. During the trial, evidence presented included a video that reportedly showed Stewart firing at an individual before he himself was shot. This piece of evidence became a focal point, with the defense arguing that Marquis Dixon had also been a victim in the altercation, having been shot five times in the back.
Ultimately, the jury delivered a verdict that reflected the intricate nature of the case. In April 2022, Marquis Dixon was found not guilty of first and second-degree murder. However, he was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter in the death of Davon Stewart, as well as two counts of possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.
In August 2022, a judge sentenced Marquis Dixon to a total of 45 years in prison for his role in the incident that ended Davon Stewart's life. The sentence was composed of 10 years for manslaughter, 20 years for the use of a firearm during a violent crime, and 15 years for the possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, with the sentences to be served consecutively.
