Timothy Shearn was found guilty on all counts for fatally shooting Deonaye Johnson in the back of the head in September of 2025
Baltimore, Md. (July 21, 2026) - Today, State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates announced the conviction of Defendant Timothy Shearn on all counts for the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Deonaye Johnson in September of 2025 at the 1000 block of N. Arlington Avenue. The Defendant threatened the mother of his child with a firearm before later shooting and killing the father of her other child during a visitation dispute. The Defendant was found guilty of First-Degree Murder, two counts of Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Crime Violence, First-Degree Assault, and Wear / Carry / Transport of a Handgun and faces a maximum penalty of Life plus 65 years at sentencing on October 16, 2026. Homicide Team Captain Elizabeth Stock prosecuted this case.
"Ultimately, if you choose to settle a personal dispute with a gun in our city, you will be held to account. Mr. Shearn made the deliberate decision to take Deonaye Johnson's life, leaving a family to grieve a loss that can never be undone," said State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates. "Today's conviction cannot restore what was stolen, but it delivers justice and ensures the man responsible faces the consequences of his actions. I commend ASA Stock, BPD's homicide team, and every member of our team who worked tirelessly to secure this conviction. Their dedication reinforces our commitment to removing violent offenders from our streets, standing with victims and their loved ones, and making Baltimore a safer city for every family."
On September 9, 2025, a woman flagged down officers and advised that her child’s father, Timothy Shearn, had just pointed a firearm at her and threatened her. Officers followed the woman in her vehicle to the location of the incident at the 1000 block of N. Arlington Avenue, but no one was there. The woman then took officers to where she believed the Defendant may have gone, but no one was at that location either. Officers lost the woman's vehicle after the second location and called her to find out where she was. The woman could be heard yelling on the phone to put the gun away. As officers attempted to determine her location, they heard shots, and ShotSpotter alerted to the area. Officers responded back to the first location where the woman had taken them to and saw Deonaye Johnson on the ground, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the back of the head. The woman advised police that she believed the Defendant ran back into one of the two houses on that block of N. Arlington Avenue. After several hours of a possible barricade situation, police were able to clear both houses, with negative results for the Defendant.
The woman then advised police that after the initial threat by the Defendant, she had called the victim, who she also has a child with, and he arrived at the location in an attempt to diffuse situation. The woman advised that she again saw the Defendant with a firearm and that the victim got shot.
Police also spoke with a witness who was present at the scene during some of the incident, and she advised she saw the Defendant outside and then after the victim was shot he fled the area.
A search of the residence recovered paperwork in the name of Timothy Shearn, and an empty Smith & Wesson gun box. Additionally, six 9mm cartridge cases were recovered from the scene near where the victim was shot and all were determined to have been fired with the same unknown firearm. Three pieces of bullet evidence were recovered during the autopsy of the victim and were determined to have been fired from the same unknown firearm.