ESSEX, MD—A 20-year-old Laurel man has been convicted of murder.

On Thursday, a jury in the Baltimore County Circuit Court convicted Keonta Adrian Skipwith of first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and weapons charges.

At around 10 p.m. on October 9, 2020, officers with the Baltimore County Police Department responded to the 500-block of Welbrook Road (21221).  There, they found Zeshaan Toppa suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.  Officers attempted CPR but Toppa was pronounced dead.

Detectives learned that Toppa and two teens were victims of an attempted robbery with a handgun being wielded by Skipwith, who was aided by one other individual. During the incident and subsequent altercation, Skipwith shot Toppa.

State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger offered his thanks to the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in “bringing Keonta Skipwith to justice for his violent use of a firearm clearly motivated by greed.” In addition, he offered his sympathies to the Toppa family for “the senseless loss of a life.”

Skipwith faces the possibility of a life sentence.  Sentencing has been scheduled for December 2, 2022 in Baltimore County Circuit Court.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels