On a September afternoon in 2016, Walter Bryan, a 46-year-old Black or African American male, was shot and killed in Annapolis, Maryland. The incident, which took place on Pleasant Street, marked a grim milestone as the city's ninth homicide of the year, a record number stretching back decades.
The events leading to Bryan's death began with a heated argument between him and another Annapolis man, 24-year-old Antiwan Brown.
Witnesses and prosecutors would later agree that Brown was not the one who initiated the confrontation. In fact, he initially attempted to walk away from the escalating situation. However, Bryan, who was found to have a high blood alcohol level and PCP in his system, pursued him.
As the confrontation continued, Bryan reportedly threatened to assault Brown and take his gun. In the tense moments that followed, Brown pleaded with Bryan, saying, "Please don't make me shoot you." He fired several warning shots, one of which struck Bryan in the stomach. Bryan was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Following the shooting, Antiwan Brown was arrested and initially charged with first and second-degree murder. However, the narrative of the incident, as recounted by witnesses, painted a more complex picture than a straightforward murder. Citing the evidence that Brown was not the initial aggressor and had tried to de-escalate the situation, the charges were later amended.
Ultimately, Brown pleaded guilty to manslaughter and a firearms charge. In August 2018, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The judge, in delivering the sentence, acknowledged Brown's own difficult upbringing and expressed hope for his rehabilitation. At the time of his arrest for the shooting, Brown was already wanted for a probation violation for failing to complete an anger management course.
