Annapolis Man Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter

ANNAPOLIS, MD — An Annapolis man pleaded guilty to a September 2016 manslaughter Monday, according to reports. Witnesses and the courts say that Antiwan Brown, 24, was not the initial aggressor in the incident that led to the shooting death of Walter Bryan, 46.

Brown was initially charged with first- and second- degree murder, the Capital Gazette reported. Bryan's death was the ninth of 2016, a number that broke the record for city killings in Annapolis since at least 1975, police records say.

That September day, on Pleasant Street, Bryan approached Brown and the two began arguing. Witnesses said, and prosecutors agreed, that Brown initially tried to walk away.

But Bryan, who was found to have a .24 blood alcohol level and PCP in his system, followed. He told Brown he was going to assault him and take his gun, witnesses told investigators, according to Assistant State's Attorney Theresa Morse.

At one point, Brown said "Please don't make me shoot you," witnesses said.

Brown fired several warning shots, one of which hit Bryan in the stomach, the Gazette reported. Maryland does not have a "stand your ground" law, instead requiring citizens, while in public, to flee before using deadly force in self defense, according to the Maryland Criminal Lawyer blog.

Bryan was a much bigger man than Brown, said Harry Jacques Trainor Jr., Brown's defense attorney.

Brown pleaded guilty to manslaughter and a firearms charge. He will be sentenced on July 16, when prosecutors will recommend 30 years in prison, with all but 15 to 20 years suspended, the Gazette reported.

Article image Annapolis Police Department