State’s Attorney Charlie Smith attends the National District Attorneys Association Board Meeting and Summer Summit in Boise, Idaho. SA Smith completes his NDAA Presidential term today, passing the gavel to San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan. ![]()
As NDAA President, SA Smith championed innovative and collaborative initiatives that promote public safety and the prosecutorial profession throughout the country. SA Smith championed legislation on Capitol Hill to protect victims and victim services funding. He led NDAA participation with the American Bar Association to ensure that the prosecutor perspective was included in national policies and best practices. SA Smith also created the Wellbeing Committee and Recruitment & Retention Committee to focus on hiring and keeping the best and most effective prosecutors that will seek justice. Lastly, he created the Military Justice Committee to partner with military installations around the country on the prosecutions of homicides, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and child abuse. SA Smith will continue to serve as Chairman of the NDAA Board and continue this important work in the year to come.
PRESS RELEASE![]()
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE![]()
JULY 11, 2024![]()
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Frederick Man Pleads Guilty to 1st Degree Murder![]()
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Frederick, Maryland – Yesterday, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Jeffrey Whitney Bryan, Jr. plead guilty to 1st Degree Murder. The Honorable Judge Scott Rolle presided over the hearing and accepted the plea. ![]()
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On July 1, 2023, at approximately 12:20 a.m., officers with the Frederick City Police Department (FPD) responded to a call for a male “shot in the face” at 170 All Saints Street in Frederick, MD. Upon arrival, officers observed an unconscious male, bleeding heavily from the side of his face. Officers immediately requested EMS and began CPR on the victim. The victim, identified as Tayquan Palmer, died at the scene from his injuries. Detectives with FPD were assigned to the case and gathered evidence establishing the following:![]()
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An outdoor “get together” of approximately 20 - 30 people occurred on the evening of June 30, 2023 into the early morning hours of July 1, 2023 in and around the parking lot located between Gaithers Alley and 170 W All Saints Street, Frederick, MD. Both the Victim and the Defendant were present at this event. At some point during the event a disagreement occurred between the two. The Defendant left the event at approximately 10:40pm and returned at 12:10am on July 1, 2023 wearing a hoody and full face mask. The Defendant waited in Gaithers Alley until the Victim was away from the crowd at which point the Defendant walked up to the victim and shot him in the head.![]()
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Sentencing in the matter has been set for September 16, 2024 at 9am. ![]()
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The State of Maryland is represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney, Violent Crimes Unit, Ricky Lewis and Assistant State’s Attorney William Grove.![]()
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Press Contact:![]()
Jacqueline Rottmann![]()
Court Media Relations Officer![]()
301-600-2972![]()
100 West Patrick Street![]()
Frederick, Maryland 21701![]()
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PRESS RELEASE![]()
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE![]()
JULY 10, 2024![]()
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Hagerstown Man Sentenced to Life Plus 15 Years For Attempted First-Degree Murder and Five Additional Charges Including Use of a Firearm with High-Capacity Magazine in the Commission of a Crime of Violence![]()
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Frederick, Maryland – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Julia Martz-Fisher, sentenced Lookman-Khalil Abolajo Bello to Life plus 15 years in The Department of Corrections for Attempted First-Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in the Commission a Crime of Violence, Use of a High-Capacity Magazine in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, Possession of a Firearm by Person with Prior Crime of Violence Conviction, Possession of Ammunition by Person with Prior Crime of Violence Conviction, and Fleeing Police. In February 2024, Judge Martz-Fisher presided over a seven-day bench trial and found Lookman-Khalil Abolajo Bello guilty.![]()
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On March 18, 2022 at approximately 2:45a.m., Deputy First Class Christian Lucente of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle traveling 94 mph near I270/Rte.85. The vehicle failed to stop and led police on a brief pursuit to the area of Kingscrest Apartments in Frederick. The operator of the vehicle, later identified as the Defendant, bailed out of the vehicle and took off on foot. The foot pursuit continued into the area of Rooks Court at which time the Defendant pulled out an unserialized Polymer80 9mm handgun with an extended magazine from his right jacket pocket and began firing at DFC Lucente. The Defendant fired a total of 12 rounds at DFC Lucente; several of which struck the apartment building directly behind where DFC Lucente was located. DFC Lucente was able to return fire striking and incapacitating the Defendant. DFC Lucente and DFC Dixon were then able to approach, apprehend, and provide emergency medical treatment to the Defendant. Other deputies arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and took over providing medical treatment until EMS arrived. The Defendant was transferred to University of Maryland Shock Trauma for further medical care before being remitted to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center to answer for the charges for which he has now been convicted and sentenced.![]()
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State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “Our community needs to understand that police face the possibility of being shot at every day, and that we as prosecutors will hold those gunmen and violent offenders accountable. Bello has shown that he is a major threat to public safety and therefore should be removed from our community and incarcerated for a substantial period of time.”![]()
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The apprehension, arrest and conviction of the Defendant was a collaborative effort by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office, represented by Chief, Violent Crimes Unit, Ricky Lewis and Assistant State’s Attorney, Samantha Slattery. ![]()
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Press Contact:![]()
Jacqueline Rottmann![]()
Court Media Relations Officer![]()
JRottmann@statesattorney.us![]()
301-600-2972![]()
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Join us for National Night Out 2024, and meet our public safety partners! See you there, Tuesday, August 6th, from 5 pm - 8 pm. Frederick Police Department Frederick County Sheriff's Office, MD - Integrity Driven • Community Built Frederick County (MD) Fire & Rescue #nationalnightout2024