Troy Preston, a 47-year-old man, was tragically killed on January 9, 2015, in Baltimore, Maryland, following a dispute over a parking space. The incident, which also resulted in the death of another man, Robert Durham Thomas, unfolded in a typically quiet neighborhood and sent shockwaves through the community. Preston, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a father, was fatally shot in front of a home on Glenkirk Road.
The altercation stemmed from a long-standing argument between the shooter and Thomas regarding a parking spot.
The conflict escalated on that Friday when Dennis Padgett, the neighbor of Thomas, engaged in a heated argument with both Thomas and Preston. After the initial confrontation, Padgett went into his house and returned with an AR-15 assault rifle and a 9mm handgun. He then shot Preston in the head at close range. Following the shooting of Preston, Padgett chased down Thomas, who was fleeing, and shot him multiple times a block away on Northern Parkway.
Following the deadly shootings, Padgett surrendered to the police who had surrounded his home. He subsequently admitted to the killings during a police interview. Padgett was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and weapons violations for the deaths of both Troy Preston and Robert Thomas.
In December 2016, a Baltimore City jury convicted Dennis Padgett. For the death of Troy Preston, he was found guilty of manslaughter. For the killing of Robert Durham Thomas, he was convicted of first-degree murder. The court sentenced Padgett to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with an additional 71 years for the associated weapons charges, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his life incarcerated for his violent actions.
