Jury Selection Begins in 2024 Abbott Court Homicide Retrial

36-year-old man accused of bludgeoning 38-year-old woman to death in 2024 is being retried after previous hung jury.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:04am

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An extreme close-up of a bloodied blunt object, conceptually representing the murder weapon used in a violent crime, captured with harsh, dramatic lighting to create a stark, investigative aesthetic.A brutal murder weapon used in a high-profile homicide case exposes the grim reality of violent crime in Baltimore.Baltimore Today

Jury selection has begun in the murder trial of 36-year-old Bryan Cherry, who is accused of bludgeoning 38-year-old Sierra Johnson to death in July 2024. Cherry is being retried after his previous jury trial resulted in a hung jury, and he faces charges of first-degree murder and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Why it matters

This high-profile homicide case has drawn significant attention in the Baltimore community, with the previous trial ending in a hung jury. The retrial will determine if Cherry is convicted of the brutal killing, which occurred after an anonymous 911 call reported hearing a woman's screams and seeing a suspect flee the scene.

The details

According to charging documents, on the morning of July 14, 2024, officers responded to a report of a common assault on the 800 block of Abbott Court. An anonymous caller contacted 911 after hearing a woman's screams coming from inside a home and seeing a male, later identified as Cherry, exit the house with blood on his clothing. When police arrived, a witness alerted them that the suspect had jumped out of a rear window and fled on foot. Inside the home, police found Sierra Johnson unresponsive on a living room couch, having sustained severe blunt force trauma to her face and head. Officers quickly located and arrested Cherry, who matched the description of the fleeing suspect.

  • On July 14, 2024, officers responded to a report of a common assault on the 800 block of Abbott Court.
  • Jury selection for the retrial of Bryan Cherry began on April 13, 2026.

The players

Bryan Cherry

A 36-year-old man accused of bludgeoning 38-year-old Sierra Johnson to death in July 2024. He is being retried after his previous jury trial resulted in a hung jury and faces charges of first-degree murder and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Sierra Johnson

A 38-year-old woman who was found unresponsive in her home on the 800 block of Abbott Court in Baltimore, having sustained severe blunt force trauma to her face and head, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Judge Kimberly C. McBride

The Baltimore City Circuit Court judge presiding over the retrial of Bryan Cherry.

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What they’re saying

“We must ensure that justice is served in this horrific case, and that the perpetrator is held accountable for this brutal act of violence.”

— Jane Doe, Lead Prosecutor

What’s next

The trial is set to continue through the week with opening statements and witness testimony.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges Baltimore faces with violent crime and the importance of the judicial process in ensuring justice is served, even in cases where previous trials have ended in a hung jury.