Defendant Sentenced to Life plus 45 Years for Westside Shopping Center Homicide

Baltimore (Md.) August 19, 2026 - Today, the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City announced that Defendant Bishop Chance was sentenced to Life plus 45 years for the fatal shooting of Theodore Burrell and the non-fatal shooting of another individual on July 16, 2024 at the Westside Shopping Center on Frederick Avenue. The Defendant was convicted First-Degree Murder, Use of Firearm in the Commission of Crime of Violence (2 counts), First Degree Assault, and Illegal Possession of Regulated Firearm by Minor. Assistant State's Attorneys Erin Godwin and Megan Gallo prosecuted this case.

“Today’s sentence ensures this Defendant will never be able to recklessly threaten the lives of innocent families and children by discharging a firearm near a busy shopping center," said State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates. "Violence like this has no place in our communities, and those who choose to use a firearm against another person must understand that there will be serious and lasting consequences. I want to thank my Homicide team and the Baltimore Police for working this complex case to achieve justice. I hope today’s sentence provides some measure of closure to the victims and their families as they continue to heal.” 

On July 16, 2024, at approximately 5:43 p.m., Baltimore Police officers responded to the Westside Shopping Center at the 2400 block of Frederick Avenue following a ShotSpotter alert for six rounds, as well as a call for a shooting. Upon arrival, officers observed Theodore Burrell lying in front of the Wells Fargo Bank for multiple gunshot wounds to the left leg and torso. The victim was transported to Shock Trauma Hospital where, despite lifesaving measures, he succumbed to his injuries.

Officers conducted an additional area canvass for a secondary crime scene, which was located in front of 2415 Frederick Avenue. The evidence consisted of a .22 caliber firearm, several 9mm and .40 caliber cartridge cases, bullet fragments, and a large trail of suspected blood. 

During the course of the investigation, officers were advised of two walk-in shooting victims at area hospitals including; Defendant Bishop Chance at Harbor Hospital and another male at Grace Medical. Both men sustained non-life threatening injuries.

The Defendant claimed he was shot at a Royal Farms somewhere and flagged someone down to take him to the hospital. He denied ever seeing the vehicle used to drop him off and also denied knowing the person who dropped him off at the hospital. His location and involvement in this incident could not be initially determined or confirmed. After further investigation, detectives found the Defendant's story to be improbable, as there were only two calls for a discharging and/or a shooting on July 16, 2024 in the entire city. One was in reference to the homicide of Theodore Burrell at the Westside Shopping Center. The second was an unrelated shooting in the Eastern district at 8:46 p.m. 

The vehicle used to take the Defendant to the hospital was confirmed to be a 2008 Infiniti. Video footage and License Plate Reader (LPR) data led detectives to identify the suspected vehicle used in the shooting as a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. This vehicle was reported stolen on July 15, 2024 and generated an LPR hit at the entrance to the Westside Shopping Center at 5:38 p.m. Once the vehicle turned into the Westside Shopping Center, detectives were able to track it on video footage circling the parking lot to where it is then seen stopping in front of 2415 Frederick Avenue at 5:40 p.m. when the shooting occurred. Video footage was recovered of the shooting and shows two suspects exit this vehicle through the rear driver side door at approximately 5:40 p.m. The suspects then began firing at the victims while chasing them on foot. 

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra was involved in an accident at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and W. Patapsco Avenue shortly after the shooting. The vehicle was towed and processed.  Suspected blood was swabbed from the backseat and found to belong to Defendant, Bishop Chance.

Bishop's co-defendant, Gregory Whitfield, is scheduled for trial on October 1, 2026.