West Baltimore – Charles Underwood pleaded guilty Thursday to second degree murder. Underwood is responsible for the 2016 murder of Davon Bridgeforth. Underwood received a 25 year sentence for his crime.
On September 21, 2016 around 9:30 p.m., officers responded to a call for a cutting in the 1700 block of Gwynn Falls Parkway in West Baltimore’s Parkview/Woodbrook neighborhood. Underwood approached the officers and declared, “He stabbed me.” Bystanders directed officers to Bridgeforth, who was lying on the sidewalk a short distance away.
Bridgeforth was bleeding heavily. Near Bridgeforth was a blood soaked folding knife. The victim later died as a result of his injuries, and the Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide by stab wound.
None of the bystanders indicated that they had seen the stabbing take place. Police then canvassed the area—following a blood trail across several blocks to the 2400 block of Reisterstown Rd. In that area police found a large butcher knife with a white handle wrapped in a black t-shirt. The shirt was hidden underneath a pile of trash bags.
Investigators tested the shirt and found that DNA recovered from the shirt matched Underwood’s DNA. Detectives also found video footage from a corner store that showed a man in a black t-shirt begin to attack Bridgeforth as Bridgeforth back peddled away. Both men then travel out of camera range. The attacker reappears moments later with his black shirt off.
Underwood was later questioned by police. After waiving his Miranda Rights he told police he had been attacked while leaving the corner store. When shown stills of the surveillance video, he told police that the man in the black shirt appeared to be him. Shortly thereafter Underwood requested an attorney.
“I think police did a phenomenal job—given that there were no witnesses to this murder—questioning Underwood. Underwood identifying himself was an integral part of the case,” said State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. “The family of Davon Bridgeforth was present at sentencing. They understood and accepted the guilty plea and my hope is that they find closure in all of this.”
