In the early morning hours of October 2, 2017, a Black / African American man named Daniel Brinkley, 24, was shot and killed in the Upton community of Baltimore. The incident occurred around 8:29 a.m. in the 1300 block of Myrtle Avenue. Officers responding to a call for a serious shooting found that Brinkley had already been transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced deceased at 8:53 a.m.
An autopsy later revealed that he had sustained six gunshot wounds. At the scene of the crime, investigators found blood, two bullet casings, clothing, pocket change, and cell phone chargers.
A witness at the scene identified the shooter to police as a man known in the neighborhood as "Ty," whose full name was later confirmed to be Tyrone White. The witness provided a detailed physical description of the shooter, noting he wore a brown leather jacket, blue jeans, and black boots, and had a noticeably disfigured eye from a previous shooting. According to the witness, White shot Brinkley multiple times, then went through his pockets and took miscellaneous items before fleeing the area on foot. White was arrested within 24 hours of the shooting.
The investigation uncovered further evidence linking White to the murder. Police received a call about ammunition and a speed loader found in a trashcan at a church just three blocks from White's home. Body-worn camera footage captured officers recovering these items, along with a brown coat and black boots that matched the witness's description. When police searched White's home, they discovered journals containing numerous threats of violence toward Brinkley. One entry, dated the day before the shooting, stated that "Danny needs to learn a lesson."
In July 2019, a Baltimore City jury convicted Tyrone White, then 35, of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony crime of violence, and firearm possession after a disqualifying crime. In November 2019, he was sentenced to life in prison plus 35 years. During the sentencing, members of Brinkley's family spoke about the caring and happy young man he was and the profound loss his death created. However, White's conviction was later overturned on appeal. A second trial in 2022 resulted in a hung jury, leading to a mistrial. In September 2024, nearly seven years after Brinkley's death, Tyrone White's third trial for murder, robbery, assault, and weapons charges was set to begin.
