In the afternoon hours of January 9, 2017, Chris Pennington, a 32-year-old male, was fatally shot in the 2400 block of West Baltimore Street. Responding officers found Pennington at the scene around 2 p.m. and transported him to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The incident was not a random act of violence but rather a targeted killing with roots in a criminal underworld dispute.
An investigation into the shooting revealed a connection to the 'Trained To Go' gang, a
violent racketeering enterprise involved in drug distribution, witness intimidation, and murder. Authorities determined that Dennis Pulley, a high-ranking member of the gang, had solicited the murder of Pennington. The motive stemmed from a feud that developed in the summer of 2016 after Pennington and others allegedly robbed a marijuana distributor supplied by Pulley. In retaliation, Pulley sought to have Pennington, who was also known by the alias 'Magic,' killed.
Law enforcement officials identified Jamar Hinton as the individual who carried out the shooting. Hinton was subsequently arrested on January 20, 2017, and charged with first-degree murder and other related offenses for his role in Pennington's death. Following his arrest, he was held pending trial.
The broader investigation into the TTG organization led to federal charges against Dennis Pulley. He was convicted for his involvement in the racketeering conspiracy, which included the murder of Chris Pennington, as well as drug trafficking and witness intimidation. As a result, Pulley was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison. During Pulley's trial, further details emerged, including the recovery of the murder weapon from the home of a co-defendant.
