20-Year-Old Pleads Guilty to Killing Teen in Inner Harbor

Dejuan Cole accepts 30-year sentence for first-degree murder and use of a handgun in a violent crime

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 20-year-old Pikesville man pleaded guilty on Feb. 10 to the murder of a 17-year-old juvenile outside an Inner Harbor hotel last spring. Dejuan Cole accepted a plea bargain for first-degree murder and use of a hand gun in a violent crime, receiving a 30-year prison sentence.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of youth violence and gun crime in Baltimore, particularly in high-traffic tourist areas like the Inner Harbor. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of plea bargaining and sentencing guidelines in deterring such violent acts.

The details

According to charging documents, Cole and four other men attempted to rob the victim, Devron Tyner, before fatally shooting him on the 200 block of E. Pratt Street, just outside the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel. Surveillance footage and two eyewitnesses placed Cole and the other men at the crime scene. Cole turned himself in to police on April 8, 2024 after still images from the footage were released.

  • The incident took place on April 1, 2024.
  • Cole turned himself in to police on April 8, 2024.

The players

Dejuan Cole

A 20-year-old man from Pikesville, Maryland who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and use of a handgun in a violent crime.

Devron Tyner

A 17-year-old juvenile who was fatally shot during an attempted robbery outside an Inner Harbor hotel.

Judge Robert K. Taylor

The Baltimore City Circuit Court judge who presided over the case and sentenced Cole to 30 years in prison.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You took everything he was going to be.”

— Judge Robert K. Taylor (baltimorewitness.org)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Dejuan Cole out on bail pending his 30-year sentence.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the urgent need for Baltimore to address the root causes of youth violence and gun crime, including poverty, lack of opportunity, and access to firearms. Effective intervention and prevention programs, as well as sentencing reform, will be crucial to curbing such senseless acts of violence in the future.