On a spring afternoon in Baltimore, tragedy struck in the 2300 block of Bryant Avenue, forever altering the lives of a local family. Deandre Brown, a 27-year-old Black male, was shot and killed on April 2, 2018, in a violent outburst that also left another 29-year-old man injured. The incident, which unfolded in broad daylight, stemmed from a dispute that escalated with devastating consequences.
The conflict reportedly began with a verbal altercation that led to a physical fight.
Aaron J. Ausby became involved in the dispute, which drew the attention of Deandre Brown. Brown intervened in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Following this initial confrontation, Ausby left the scene but returned a short time later. Witnesses described a van pulling up, from which three men, including Ausby, emerged and opened fire. In the ensuing chaos, Deandre Brown was struck by multiple gunshots. He also returned fire to protect his family and his mother's home.
The aftermath of the shooting left Deandre Brown with fatal injuries; an autopsy later confirmed he died from multiple gunshot wounds. The investigation that followed led to the arrest of Aaron J. Ausby approximately two weeks later. He faced a series of charges, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and several firearms offenses.
During the trial in June 2019, key testimony came from Deandre Brown's sister, who was an eyewitness to the shooting. After hearing all the evidence, the jury found Aaron J. Ausby guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and all three firearms counts. In July 2019, he was sentenced to a total of 65 years in prison. An appeal of his conviction was later denied.
