BALTIMORE — Dominique Grant, 27, was sentenced to 60 years in prison, suspending all but 45 years for his role in an armed robbery that occurred in February of 2018. Initially, the case resulted in a mistrial, but the verdict was overturned in May, and Grant was convicted of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, attempted armed robbery using a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and using a firearm in a crime of violence while being a prohibited person due to prior convictions.
Assistant State’s Attorney Alex Rothstein prosecuted this case.
On February 19, 2018, around the 1100 block of Stoddard Court, the victim was returning home to the 1100 block of Stoddard Court. Co-defendant, Tysha Kiah approached the victim, asking him if she could buy some marijuana. Kiah lured the victim to the center of the court where Dominique Grant emerged from behind a tree with a handgun drawn. Grant pointed the gun at the victim and announced a robbery. The victim turned to run when he was shot twice below the waist after only a few steps falling on a nearby porch. The assailants stood over the victim, and he was shot once more before a neighbor opened her door, causing them to flee. The victim was transported to the hospital where medical personnel treated him for three gunshot wounds resulting in the continuing need for a colostomy bag.
The courtyard was equipped with CCTV cameras. While those cameras were not focused on the exact location of the shooting, the following events were captured and indeed corroborated the victim’s testimony. Co-defendant Kiah is observed approaching the victim and engaging in a short conversation. At the same time, another camera shows defendant Grant carrying his striped yellow jacket to a point out of camera view before walking back without his jacket toward Kiah and the victim. A moment later, the defendant Grant and co-defendant Kiah then flee together, taking the same path where Grant was previously seen discarding his jacket. Other camera angles also show people in the court reacting to the shooting by either running away or rushing to help the victim seconds before the attackers fleeing. At this point, CCTV operators were able to take control of a camera and were able to locate the victim on the porch where he fell.
Police identified Tysha Kiah and Dominque Grant as suspects in part due to an Instagram photograph of the two standing together in a store where Grant was wearing the identical yellow jacket seen in the CCTV footage.
Police subsequently showed the victim photographic arrays of both suspects, and he identified both as his assailants.
“This sentence is the product of a hard-fought retrial by ASA Rothstein and a testament to my office’s commitment to see that justice is served,” said State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. “I am grateful for the CCTV camera that captured the perpetrators, as well as the victim’s cooperation in both trials. They both played a vital role in obtaining this conviction and ensuring that this act of violence was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Grant’s codefendant, Tysha Kiah, pled guilty before the first trial and accepted a sentence of ten years.
