Man Who Shot Teen In Head, Buried Body Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A 24-year-old Laurel man has pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter in the Sept. 29, 2020, killing of 17-year-old Brian Ward.

According to U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Brandon Nguyen agreed to a sentence of 7.5 to 11 years of incarceration followed by supervised released. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 26.

The government’s evidence showed that on Sept. 29, 2020, at approximately 3:59 p.m., officers with the Metropolitan Police Department responded to a report of gunshots in the 300 block of Allison Street N.W. Witnesses described a dark blue sedan driving off at high speed following the shooting.

A police investigation revealed that Nguyen was driving the car and that he had met with Ward for a purported marijuana transaction. Ward was never seen alive again after entering Nguyen’s vehicle and the investigation revealed Nguyen and Ward struggled over a gun in the vehicle, according to evidence presented.

The investigation also showed that after shooting Ward, Nguyen drove him 15 miles to the 6900 block of Contee Road in Laurel where he dumped Ward’s body in the woods. Nguyen later used bleach to clean his vehicle and subsequently sold the vehicle.

In December 2021, police confronted the Nguyen and he admitted that he shot Ward following a struggle over a firearm. Nguyen then led detectives to the location of Ward’s skeletonized remains. Forensic examination and testing by the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives revealed that Nguyen fired at least six shots and Ward was shot in the neck and front and rear of his head, according to evidence presented.

Nguyen was arrested Nov. 21, 2022, and has been in custody since that time.