In the summer of 2017, a violent drug turf war plaguing the streets of Baltimore claimed the life of 22-year-old Maurice Finney. Known to his friends as 'Mitch,' Finney was fatally shot in the head at close range with a. 40-caliber handgun on July 17, 2017. The incident unfolded at a gas station at the intersection of Baltimore Street and Hilton Avenue, a contested territory for drug sales in the city.
The conflict that led to Finney's death was rooted in a dispute between two rival drug
trafficking organizations. Just days prior, on July 14, a member of the Abington Avenue DTO was killed by a member of a rival group. In an act of retaliation, Cortez Weaver and another member of the Abington Avenue DTO went to the gas station on July 17th to confront the rival faction. It was there that they encountered Maurice Finney, who was associated with the rival drug trafficking organization.
The entire tragic event was captured by surveillance cameras, which provided crucial evidence for investigators. Following the murder, Weaver attempted to conceal his involvement by instructing a co-conspirator to destroy evidence. However, law enforcement officials were able to build a substantial case against him. A key piece of evidence was a recorded conversation in which Weaver confessed to the murder, providing specific details that matched the surveillance footage and physical evidence from the scene.
Cortez Weaver, also known as 'Corty' and 'Tez,' was arrested and prosecuted for his role in Finney's death. In February 2020, Weaver pleaded guilty to possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, resulting in the death of Maurice Finney. He was subsequently sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The successful prosecution of Weaver was part of a broader law enforcement effort to combat gang violence and drug trafficking in Baltimore.
