Suspect In Meghan Lewis' Shooting Death Remains Out Of Jail, Protest Held In Bel Air

BEL AIR, MD — People gathered outside the Harford County courthouse in Bel Air Monday to protest a judge's decision to release Brian Michael Delen from jail. He has been charged with killing a transgender woman in Bel Air two weeks ago.

Protestors are calling for the suspect to face hate crime charges in the shooting death of Meghan Riley Lewis, WJZ reported. Activists said they are outraged that a judge placed the suspect on GPS home monitoring.

"We are tired. We're scared. We are worried. This is unfair. That woman did not deserve to die," demonstrator Koryne Davis told WJZ.

Patch previously reported that Delen, 47, had been released on his own recognizance after a hearing Dec. 29, according to online court records.

Delen of the 500 block of Park Manor Circle in Bel Air, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and firearms charges after police say he killed 53-year-old Meghan Riley Lewis following an argument. Delen was delivering food around 6:30 p.m. Dec. 27 to the English Country Manor neighborhood along Churchill Road when he argued with Lewis, Patch reported previously.

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 away, Lewis followed on foot. Delen stopped his vehicle and re-engaged with Lewis, court documents said, 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, officials said.

Bel Air police found Lewis in the parking lot and took her to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

"(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."

Maryland Safe Haven, an advocacy organization for transgender rights, organized the event.

"Too often, our cries for justice are ignored, and our lives are treated as disposable ... we stand united to ensure that Meghan's case does not become another statistic, but a catalyst for change," Executive Director of Maryland Safe Haven Iya Dammons said.

Maryland Safe Haven called upon the community, local law enforcement agencies, the state's attorney's office and other relevant authorities to join them in their pursuit of justice for Lewis.

"We request meetings with officials to discuss the case, present evidence and express our concerns about the handling of the investigation," Dammons posted on Facebook. "Furthermore, we urge local lawmakers and advocacy organizations to work together in pushing for stronger hate crime legislation that explicitly protects transgender individuals. We must collaborate with allies and community members to raise awareness about the importance of recognizing and addressing hate crimes against transgender people."

On Jan. 8, the same day as the protest, the Harford County State's Attorney's Office said it cannot comment about details or reveal evidence in the case.

The bail review was a public hearing where the State's Attorney's Office requested that Delen be held without bail pending trial. The State's Attorney's Office said any questions regarding the bail status should be directed to the courts.

"This individual took a life," Renee Lau with Maryland Safe Haven told WJZ. "He took the life of someone who cared and someone who would treat him the same way that she would treat her own children. This needs to be investigated further. It is unconscionable that a person with a second-degree murder charge should be at liberty, and Meghan can't speak for herself."

Members of the local LGBTQ community have described Lewis as "uplifting" and a committed supporter of transgender people in Maryland.

"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.

"That's just who she was as a person, she was always interested in uplifting our fellow community members," added Lee Blinder, the executive director of Trans Maryland, a group that supports the trans community across the state. "She had even, just over the holiday, recently made a post in one of the community groups offering for folks to join her at her home for a holiday dinner, and that's just who Meghan was."

Harford County State's Attorney Alison M. Healey and Deputy State's Attorney David W. Ryden will handle the case.

"The loss of any life in our community is devastating. The evidence in this case will be thoroughly evaluated in the same manner as any case presented to our office for prosecution and as always, the State's Attorney Office remains committed to seeking justice," the office said in a statement.

Delen's public defender said he has a "strong self-defense argument."

The next hearing in this case is Jan. 25. If convicted, Delen could face up to 85 years in prison.

Related:

• Suspect In Fatal Bel Air Shooting Released From Jail: Report
• Celebration Of Life Held For 'Bright Light' Meghan Riley Lewis
• Woman Fatally Shot During Argument In Parking Lot: Bel Air Police