Man Gets Life in Prison Over Deadly Dispute Over Illegal Power Hookup

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Photo Source: FBI

East Baltimore — Ignatius Lawrence Jr. was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years after being convicted of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and two additional gun charges.

Assistant State’s Attorney Michael J. Dunty prosecuted the case.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2016, a Baltimore Police officer was flagged over to Rod’s Barbershop in the 2400 block of E. Monument Street, where a man was discovered inside suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and back. The crime scene, located on the first floor of the barbershop, consisted of two 9mm cartridge casings and a blood trail leading upstairs to the location of the victim— 45-year-old Kenneth Collins, an employee of the barbershop. Collins was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

During the investigation, a witness identified the shooter as a man wearing a teal cap. Police reviewed City Watch surveillance footage from the shooting and observed a man wearing a teal baseball cap—later identified as Lawrence— leaving the barbershop after the shooting. The only other occupant of the barbershop was the victim who was closing up the barbershop for the night. The witness further indicated that as the shooter left the barbershop area, he joined up with a second man—31-year-old Andre Mosby—and they left the area together.

Investigation showed that there was an ongoing dispute between Collins and Mosby, also known as “the BGE Dude” because Mosby tampered with residential BGE meters to avoid the generation of a bill. The victim paid Mosby $350 to fix his meter. However, BGE investigators discovered the issue. Mosby re-connected the meter again, but wanted an additional payment. This caused tension between Mosby and the victim.

The police determined that after the homicide Mosby and Lawrence switched automobiles from a Ford Expedition to a Corvette. Once the Ford SUV was located, police found a 9mm cartridge behind the driver’s seat which was made by the same manufacturer as the two cartridge casings found at the crime scene.

“I’m saddened by this senseless crime of violence over greed and power that resulted in one man dead, two men imprisoned, and multiple families destroyed,” said State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. “We want the criminal element to be on notice that such violent crime will not be tolerated in Baltimore City. While nothing can bring Mr. Collins back, I pray that this conviction brings some closure to his loved ones.”

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