Related Federal Cases
Tyrik Braxton, Murder-For-Hire, Baltimore MD, 2023
Baltimore, MD – Tyrik Braxton, a/k/a “Son-Son,” 25, confessed today to his role in a cold-blooded murder-for-hire that left Juan Ross, 23, of Columbia, Maryland, dead on Basket Ring Road in October 2020. Braxton pleaded guilty to discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death, admitting he accepted payment to help carry out the hit. The case, a tangled web of betrayal and violence, reveals a motive rooted in alleged snitching and a ruthless desire for revenge.
According to court documents, the target, Juan Ross, had reportedly been accused of cooperating with law enforcement, even publicly discussing it on social media. Ross was initially arrested on drug and weapon charges, but released on bail. This perceived betrayal ignited a conspiracy led by others, who allegedly contracted Braxton to silence Ross permanently. The agreement details how Braxton utilized cellular phones and a vehicle – tools of modern crime – to facilitate the plot.
The execution was chillingly efficient. On October 4, 2020, Braxton, along with co-defendant Daquante Thomas and another accomplice, drove to Columbia to locate Ross. Braxton briefly left the vehicle, and Thomas and the other co-conspirator then carried out the shooting, leaving Ross dead at the scene. The trio then fled. This wasn’t a crime of passion; it was a calculated act of violence, fueled by money and malice.
A subsequent raid of Braxton’s residence on November 20, 2020, turned up damning evidence. Law enforcement uncovered a .45-caliber handgun, ammunition, and $2,134 in cash hidden under his mattress and bed. Braxton’s iPhone, seized alongside the weapon and money, contained photos linking him to his co-conspirators, solidifying the case against him. He admitted the photos showed his partners in the deadly scheme.
Braxton now faces a potential sentence of 20 to 25 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin has scheduled his sentencing for November 8, 2023. This plea follows the sentencing of Daquante Thomas, 20, who received 35 years for his role as one of the shooters on January 11, 2023. Another co-defendant, Jourdain Larose, a/k/a “JBlacc,” 27, of Ellicott City, Maryland, remains detained and awaits trial on charges related to the murder-for-hire conspiracy.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division, the Howard County Police Department (HCPD), and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office. While Braxton’s guilty plea brings a measure of closure to this case, the Grimy Times will continue to follow the prosecution of remaining defendants and shed light on the dark underbelly of Baltimore’s criminal landscape. The case serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of unchecked violence and the ruthless pursuit of revenge.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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