Baltimore Man Becomes 3rd Person Sentenced In Murder-For-Hire Of Howard County Man

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A 28-year-old Baltimore man has been sentenced for his role in a 2020 murder-for-hire that targeted Juan Ross of Columbia.

According to the plea agreement, on Oct. 4, 2020, Howard County Police responded to a report of a shooting in the area of Basket Ring Road in Columbia. Juan Ross was found fatally shot at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, according to police.

Tyrik Braxton, also known as “Son-Son,” admitted that he accepted money and helped the co-conspirators who shot Ross, knowing that the victim was going to be killed. A co-conspirator accused Ross of cooperating with law enforcement, including on a live social media conversation in September 2020 and in text messages. Ross had been arrested on drug and weapon charges Sept. 5, 2020, but was released on bail after being interviewed by police, the prosecution stated.

Braxton admitted that a co-conspirator solicited him to kill Ross and that he accepted payment from the co-conspirator to commit the murder. As detailed in his plea agreement, Braxton used cell phones and a vehicle in the murder-for-hire, the prosecution disclosed.

On Nov. 20, 2020, the Howard County Police Department executed a series of search warrants, including at Braxton’s residence. Braxton was in his bedroom when law enforcement arrived to execute the warrant and he was arrested. Law enforcement recovered a .45-caliber handgun with magazine and ammunition under the mattress in Braxton’s bedroom; a blue backpack containing $2,134 in cash located under the bed and Braxton’s iPhone found next to the bed. The phone contained photos of Braxton and his co-conspirators; Braxton admitted that they were his co-conspirators in the murder-for-hire of the victim, the prosecution stated.

On Jan. 11, 2023, co-defendant Daquante Thomas, 22, of Baltimore was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death. Thomas admitted that he was one of the shooters. On Feb. 27, 2024, co-defendant Jourdain Larose, also known as “JBlacc,” 29, of Ellicott City was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison his role in the murder for hire conspiracy. Larose admitted that he solicited others to kill the victim in exchange for payment, court documents showed.