BALTIMORE — Brandon Payton will be sentenced December 5, 2016, for the murder of Steven Bass. A jury convicted Payton of first and second degree murder, as well as the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.
On June 12, 2015, Baltimore Police responded to the 2200 Block of North Fulton Avenue for a serious shooting. Upon arrival, officers observed Bass lying on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Bass was transported to University of Maryland Shock Trauma where he died from his injuries.
Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Lane Chaudry prosecuted this case.
An investigation by Baltimore Homicide Detectives revealed video footage from a nearby liquor store which captured the shooting on exterior surveillance cameras. The video showed Payton dressed in a woman’s dark colored summer hat, multi-color blouse top, light blue pants, Timberland boots and a dark colored purse walking Westbound on Pennsylvania Avenue towards North Fulton Avenue prior to the shooting. The suspect then proceeded right on North Fulton, and crossed the street on the same side where the victim was located.
The video then showed the victim being chased by the suspect across the street through traffic heading Eastbound. The victim falls on the sidewalk in front of 2201 North Fulton Avenue where the suspect catches up to him, proceeds to stand over him, and shoots the victim four times in the back. Payton then fled the scene.
A witness to the shooting called 911 reporting that he had observed the shooting and that prior to the same he observed the suspect touch the front passenger hood of his vehicle. Police responded and were able to lift the suspect’s prints from the hood of the vehicle.
Days later, Detectives received a fingerprint hit from the Latent Print Unit advising that the palm print lifted from the witness’s vehicle came back as that of the Payton.
“Witness cooperation is crucial to guaranteeing that these criminals who wreak havoc on our streets are held accountable,” said State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. “The witness that came forward in this case provided imperative information which helped in the apprehension of this murderer. I want to commend this person for stepping forward, setting an example for others to follow; and, ultimately, helping us to get another ruthless killer off the streets of Baltimore.”
