In the quiet neighborhood of English Country Manor in Bel Air, Maryland, the evening of December 27, 2023, was shattered by a fatal encounter. Meghan Riley Lewis, a 57-year-old transgender woman, was shot and killed in the parking lot of her apartment complex. Friends and community members remembered Lewis as a parent, a friend, and a fervent advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, someone who was known for her loving and compassionate nature.
She was a founder of a patient support group for transgender individuals and was known for opening her home to those in need.
The man responsible for her death was Brian Michael Delen, a 47-year-old food delivery driver. The tragic chain of events began when Delen arrived in the neighborhood to make a delivery. An argument erupted between Delen and Lewis after he allegedly misgendered her. According to charging documents, Delen addressed Lewis as 'sir,' which she took offense to. As Delen started to drive away, Lewis followed him on foot. He then stopped his vehicle, and the confrontation escalated, leading to Delen shooting Lewis once in the torso. Despite being unarmed, Lewis succumbed to her injuries after being transported to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.
Following the shooting, Delen himself called 911 and surrendered to the police upon their arrival. He was initially charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and firearms offenses. His subsequent release on GPS monitoring sparked outrage and protests from friends of Lewis and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. In response to the public outcry, the charges against Delen were upgraded to first-degree murder, and he was held without bond.
Brian Delen's trial took place in Harford County Circuit Court. His defense argued that he acted in self-defense. After a seven-day trial, the jury acquitted Delen of first and second-degree murder but found him guilty of second-degree assault and the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. The verdict was met with disappointment by the prosecution and members of the community who had sought a murder conviction. The Harford County State's Attorney's Office expressed their intent to seek the maximum possible sentence for the charges on which he was convicted.
