Celebration Of Life Held For 'Bright Light' And Bel Air Shooting Victim Meghan Riley Lewis

BEL AIR, MD — A celebration of life held Tuesday night at the Harford County Circuit Court remembered the life of 57-year-old Meghan Riley Lewis, a transgender woman who was shot and killed last week in the parking lot of her Bel Air apartment complex.

Friends told CBS News that Lewis founded a patient support group for trans people coming to Baltimore for life-saving surgery and she opened her door to anyone who needed support.

"She posted in a community group just a few days before she was killed that she was having a few folks over for holiday dinner and anybody who didn't have a place to be for the holiday dinner should come and join," Lee Blinder, the executive director of Trans Maryland, said.

"She was an incredibly bright light and huge asset to the transgender community. She was one of the most decent, kind people I've ever known in my entire life," Tina Castle, a friend of Lewis, told WMAR.

Bel Air Police were called to English Country Manor condominiums in the 600 block of Churchill Road around 6:30 p.m. Dec. 27 for a report of a shooting. Officers found Lewis, 53, with a gunshot wound, according to the police department.

Investigators said Lewis and 47-year-old Brian Michael Delen of the 500 block of Park Manor Circle in Bel Air argued in the building's parking lot. Delen was delivering food in the neighborhood, Patch reported.

Delen saw Lewis walking toward his vehicle and said something like, "Are you waiting for a food delivery, sir," according to the charging documents. Delen said Lewis was offended by his remarks, CBS News reported, believing that he had misgendered her and began yelling at him.

As Delen drove off, Lewis followed on foot. Delen stopped his vehicle and re-engaged with Lewis, court documents state, which is when the fight became physical. At that point, Delen pulled out a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun and shot Lewis in the stomach, according to prosecutors. Bel Air police found her in the parking lot and took her to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

"Too many trans people being murdered," Renee Lau, the executive director of Maryland Safe Haven, said. "Was this a hate crime? Why did this have to happen?"

Delen has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and firearm used in the commission of a felony. He has been released on his own recognizance, according to online court records. Delen must wear a GPS monitor. His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25, according to CBS News.

"(Delen) immediately surrendered to them (officers). They took him into custody and found a semi-automatic pistol on his person. From that point, they also saw the victim lying on the ground," Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore told 11 News. "It's a tragic and needless loss of life."

Investigators ask that witnesses or residents who have surveillance footage of the confrontation contact Sgt. Henry Marchesani (hmarchesani@belairmd.org) or Cpl. Sam Vivino (svivino@belairmd.org) by email or by phone at 410-638-4500.