On a summer evening in Baltimore, Maryland, the life of 24-year-old Lamontrey Tynes, a Black male, was tragically cut short. On August 5, 2017, Tynes was found with gunshot wounds in the 1200 block of Sergeant Street. He was rushed to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The incident, which occurred around 5:00 p.m., was initially reported as a shooting at the intersection of South Carey and Sargeant streets.
An officer on patrol heard the gunshots but was unable to immediately locate a victim. Subsequent calls led police to the 1200 block of Sargeant Street, where they discovered blood, three 9mm shell casings, a car door handle, and a projectile. Shortly thereafter, another officer was alerted to a deserted car at the entrance of the University of Maryland Medical Center's emergency room. Inside, in the back seat, was Lamontrey Tynes, suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest.
The investigation into Tynes's death revealed a confrontation that had escalated to deadly violence. Hours before the shooting, a robbery had taken place in the same area, with money and prescription drugs being stolen. Believing that a man named Robert Garris was involved in the robbery, Tynes confronted him. Witnesses reported that during the ensuing argument, Garris shot Tynes. This confrontation proved to be the final moments of Lamontrey Tynes's life, a direct result of his attempt to address the earlier crime.
In the months following the shooting, police identified 28-year-old Robert Garris as the primary suspect. He was arrested and charged with the murder of Lamontrey Tynes. In April 2019, a jury found Robert Garris guilty of second-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime, and being a prohibited person in possession of a handgun. For his role in the death of Lamontrey Tynes, Garris faced a potential sentence of up to 75 years in prison. His sentencing was scheduled for July of that year, bringing a measure of legal closure to a senseless act of violence that stemmed from a dispute over a robbery.
