Co-Defendants Face Life Sentences Following Double Shooting Conviction

Baltimore, Md. (September 5, 2025) – Today, the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City announced that defendants Charles Robinson and Korey Hopson were found guilty of First-Degree Murder, Second-Degree Murder, and related charges for the fatal shooting of Denzel Johnson and the non-fatal shooting of another juvenile in May of 2024 at the 900 block of N. Dukeland Street. Robinson faces Life plus 45 years, and Hopson faces Life plus 35 years at sentencing on January 8, 2026. Assistant State’s Attorneys Brent Weinberg and Tonya LaPolla prosecuted this case.

“Our prosecutors zealously advocated for justice for these two young victims,” said Deputy State’s Attorney Thomas M. Donnelly. “Through cooperation with the Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Unit and the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, we were able to secure the convictions of two violent offenders who now face serious time.”

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 saw two males run 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 25th showed defendant Korey Hopson purchasing the lighter fluid. Detectives recovered a cell phone from Mr. Hopson at the time of his apprehension. Utilizing cellular data from this phone, investigators were able to identify the cellular number of the other suspect, defendant Charles Robinson, and later apprehend 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.