Charles Robinson and Korey Hopson shot a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old in May 2024 in the Mosher neighborhood
Baltimore, Md. (May 7, 2026) – Today, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office announced that Defendants Charles Robinson and Korey Hopson were each sentenced to Life plus 30 years for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Denzel Johnson and the non-fatal shooting of a 15-year-old male on May 25, 2024, at the 900 block of N. Dukeland Street. Both Defendants were found guilty by a Baltimore City Jury in September 2025 of Conspiracy to Murder Resulting in Death, Second-Degree Murder, First-Degree Assault, Possession of a Regulated Firearm, and Wear, Carry, Transport of a Handgun in a Vehicle. Homicide Unit Team Captain Tonya LaPolla and ASA Brent Weinberg prosecuted this case.
“This case is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating and lasting consequences of gun violence involving our young people. One teenage boy lost his life far too soon, while another will carry the physical and emotional trauma of this senseless act for the rest of his life,” said Deputy State’s Attorney Thomas M. Donnelly. “No sentence can restore what was taken from these victims, their families, and this community, but we hope today’s outcome provides a measure of justice and accountability. I want to commend our homicide prosecutors for their tireless work throughout this lengthy and highly complex joint trial. I also extend my gratitude to the Baltimore Police Detectives whose coordination, persistence, and investigative efforts made this result possible.”
On May 25, 2024, at approximately 3:43 p.m., Baltimore Police responded to the 900 block of N. Dukeland Street for a shooting. One juvenile victim was transported and treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital and survived, while a second juvenile victim, later identified as Denzel Johnson, died of his injuries at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Hospital.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., detectives from the Baltimore Police Homicide Unit, accompanied by officers assigned to the Regional Auto Theft Task (RATT) Force, began a canvass around the area of 4600 Rokeby Road, near the most recent location of a suspected vehicle involved in the shooting. Detectives observed the car traveling eastbound through the 4600 block of Rokeby Road and began to follow when they observed the car drive off the road into the wood line in the 3900 block of Stokes Drive, and observed two individuals exit and move to the rear of the car. Detectives observed what they believed to be a flicker of flame from where the individuals were located near the car, and a decision was made to move in to attempt to apprehend the suspects before they could set a fire that would destroy evidence. As detectives approached the car, the two suspects fled northbound on foot into the woods. Officers later observed two males running out of the woods approximately two blocks away, in the vicinity of 4100 Stokes Drive. One of the two suspects, later identified as Korey Hopson, was apprehended, while the other male ran out of view.
Located inside the suspects’ vehicle was Safeway brand lighter fluid. Video footage from a Safeway at approximately 9:00 p.m. on May 25 showed Defendant Korey Hopson purchasing the lighter fluid. Detectives recovered a cell phone from Mr. Hopson at the time of his apprehension. Using cellular data from this phone, investigators identified the cellular number of the other suspect, Defendant Charles Robinson, and later apprehended him.
Defendant Korey Hopson’s DNA was found on the lighter fluid bottle and on a ski mask recovered from the car. Both defendants’ latent prints were found inside the vehicle.
The defendants were prohibited from possessing firearms at the time of the shooting due to prior firearm convictions.