TOWSON, MD—A Towson man has pled guilty to killing a man in a Trader Joe’s parking lot last year.

Kevin Sharp, 22, on Monday pled guilty to first-degree murder in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County for the killing of Barry Ransom.

On October 25, 2021, Baltimore County Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting that had occurred in the parking lot of a Trader Joe’s, located in the Shops at Kenilworth in Towson.

In the wooded area nearby, police found Ransom suffering from gunshot wounds. He had been shot in the back and arm and succumbed to his injuries after being taken to a hospital.

Ransom, a Morgan State University student, had arranged to meet Sharp at about 10 p.m. on that day. Ransom brought two friends with him. After meeting, Sharp then robbed Ransom and his two acquaintances. As Ransom attempted to run, Sharp shot him in the back.

The police were able to determine that Sharp had walked from nearby apartments to meet Ransom at Trader Joe’s.  A subsequent search of Sharp’s apartment disclosed property belonging to Ransom and his two acquaintances. Sharp had also advertised on Instagram that he was selling items which were identifiable as items taken from Ransom at the time of his killing.

State’s Attorney, Scott Shellenberger, expressed his condolences to the family of the victim and expressed “hope that the excellent investigative job of the Baltimore County Police and preparation of the case by the Assistant State’s Attorney’s will send a clear message that outrageous acts such as these will be addressed with justice for Mr. Ransom and the citizens of this County.”

Sharp pled guilty to first-degree murder on the morning he was scheduled for jury selection before the Honorable Judith C. Ensor. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 23, 2022.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels