Baltimore Teen Shot 16 Times in Deadly Shooting Faces Second Murder Trial

Deanta Dorsey, 16, was killed in a mass shooting at Edmondson Village Shopping Center in 2023, and the suspect is being tried again after a hung jury.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The family of Deonta Dorsey, a 16-year-old who was shot 16 times and killed in a mass shooting at the Edmondson Village Shopping Center in Baltimore in 2023, is hoping for justice as the second murder trial of the suspect, Daaon Spears, begins. Spears was 16 at the time of the shooting and is now 19 years old. The prosecution is building their case around video evidence, while the defense argues the case is circumstantial with no physical evidence tying Spears to the crime. Four other teenagers were also wounded in the shooting.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing struggle for justice in gun violence cases, especially those involving young victims. The family has had to relive the tragedy multiple times due to the hung jury in the previous trial, underscoring the challenges in securing convictions even with video evidence. The shooting also raises concerns about public safety and the prevalence of gun violence in Baltimore's neighborhoods.

The details

Deanta Dorsey, a 16-year-old sophomore at Edmondson-Westside High School, was shot 16 times outside the Popeyes restaurant in the Edmondson Village Shopping Center in January 2023. Daaon Spears, who was also 16 at the time, is on trial again and charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and gun offenses. The prosecution is building their case around video evidence, while the defense argues the case is circumstantial with no physical evidence tying Spears to the crime. The other murder suspect, Bryan Johnson, who was also 16 when the killing happened, is being tried separately.

  • Deanta Dorsey was shot and killed in January 2023.
  • Daaon Spears, who was 16 at the time, is now 19 years old and on trial again.
  • The first trial ended in a hung jury in October 2024.

The players

Deanta Dorsey

A 16-year-old sophomore at Edmondson-Westside High School who was shot 16 times and killed in the Edmondson Village Shopping Center in 2023.

Daaon Spears

The 16-year-old charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and gun offenses in Dorsey's death. Spears is now 19 years old and on trial again after the first trial ended in a hung jury.

Bryan Johnson

Another 16-year-old murder suspect who is being tried separately for Dorsey's death.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When you shoot somebody 16 times, what is your intent? Your intent is to kill.”

— Rita Wisthoff-Ito, Assistant State's Attorney

“Being forced to relive the nightmare of their teenage son's murder is horrific. To do it once, to do it twice, to potentially have to do it a third time is revisiting a pain that no family should have to experience in the first place.”

— Thiru Vignarajah, Attorney representing the Dorsey family

“The state is pointing their fingers in the wrong direction.”

— Brandon Taylor, Defense attorney for Daaon Spears

“Convicting an innocent teenager for crimes he did not commit is not justice. It's another tragedy.”

— Brandon Taylor, Defense attorney for Daaon Spears

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Daaon Spears out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in securing justice for victims of gun violence, especially young victims, and the immense toll it takes on families who are forced to relive the tragedy multiple times. It also raises broader questions about public safety and the prevalence of gun violence in Baltimore's neighborhoods.