In the waning hours of a Monday afternoon in West Baltimore, the life of 15-year-old Rashid Maxwell Jr. was tragically cut short. On September 25, 2023, the Black male teenager was found suffering from multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds near Gilmor Elementary School, at the intersection of Laurens and North Gilmor Streets. Emergency medical services transported him to a local hospital, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced deceased.
The incident, which occurred less than a month before what would have been his 16th birthday, left his family reeling in grief.
Family members remembered Rashid as a happy young man with a big sense of humor who had been looking forward to starting at a new school. His cousin described how he would often joke with people to make them laugh if he sensed they were upset. The sudden and violent nature of his death left his mother unable to return to her home, overwhelmed by the painful memories. In the days following the shooting, Baltimore's acting police commissioner described the killing as a 'brutal murder' and expressed confidence that the case would be solved, citing good information from homicide detectives.
The investigation into Rashid's death led to the identification of a suspect. Kenden Harrison, who was also 15 at the time of the incident, was arrested and charged with the murder. According to investigators, surveillance footage showed Harrison with Maxwell shortly before the shooting. It is alleged that the two had arranged to meet for the sale of a firearm. Authorities believe Harrison led Maxwell out of the view of the camera before shooting him in the head and torso and then fleeing the scene. Witness statements, video surveillance, and telephonic communications reportedly led detectives to identify Harrison as the suspect. Kenden Harrison, now 17, is scheduled to stand trial in January 2026.
