Baltimore (Md.) March 25, 2024 - Today, State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates announced that a Baltimore City jury convicted 19-year-old Norris Bryant on 26 charges, including Armed Carjacking and associated charges of Armed Robbery, Assault in the First Degree, Conspiracy, and Use of a Firearm in a Crime of Violence, as well as lesser included offenses which merged upon conviction. He faces 140 years of incarceration at his May 24, 2024 sentencing. Bryant’s co-defendant, Calvin Speed, pled guilty in January to Armed Carjacking and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence. A juvenile co-defendant was processed through the juvenile system. Assistant State’s Attorney Philip Green prosecuted this case with support from Law Clerk Hanna Niles.
“Committing egregious acts of violence in one of the most populated areas of our city shows a complete disregard for the law and common decency,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “It is my hope that this defendant receives the maximum penalty at sentencing for his malicious and reckless behavior.”
On May 6, 2023, at 2:06 a.m., Baltimore City Police responded to a reported armed carjacking in the 200 block of W. 26th Street. The victim reported that as he was getting ready to open the door to his vehicle, which was parked in that block, a red Hyundai Elantra, which had just been stolen two hours prior and was currently being tracked by police via the “Find My iPhone” application of the last carjacking victim, pulled up next to the victim and his girlfriend. Three suspects, later identified as Calvin Speed, Norris Bryant, and a juvenile, got out of the vehicle. All three suspects were armed with handguns. One of the suspects pointed a handgun at the victim, demanding his property. The suspect then stole the victim’s keys, iPhone 12, and wallet. During this event, another suspect pointed a gun at the victim’s girlfriend and demanded her property. The suspects then took her iPhone, purse, and $1,000 U.S. currency. After taking the property of both victims, including the keys to their white Toyota Prius, the defendants got back in the red Hyundai Elantra and drove away.
As police were investigating this incident, they learned of the citywide broadcast for the same Elantra from the carjacking two hours prior. Officers were able to track down and apprehend all three suspects in that vehicle who had abandoned the car. With the assistance of CitiWatch cameras, detectives found Norris Bryant hiding under a restaurant bench near the Phillips Seafood Restaurant in the Inner Harbor. The footage showed Bryant, clearly missing a shoe from the foot chase, hiding under the restaurant bench and being closely pursued by detectives. Body Worn Camera footage also showed the arrest, including Bryant lying about “being homeless” and giving a fake name and age to detectives before being taken into custody. As detectives worked to locate the other suspects, the firearm used in the crime was located next to Bryant’s missing shoe from the police chase around the Pier 5 Hotel.
After the arrest, one of the victims was brought to the arrest location, and the suspects were positively identified as the three individuals who had committed the above offenses. Both Defendant Norris and Defendant Speed are prohibited from possessing a firearm because they are under the age of 21. A gun matching the description of the firearm used was recovered in close proximity to both Defendants during their arrest and was deemed to be operable.