The prosecution has said they are “disappointed and saddened” after the man responsible of shooting and killing “open, loving and sparkly” trans advocate Meghan Riley Lewis was convicted of just second-degree assault.
Brian Delen, 48, shot 57-year-old Lewis in late December 2023 after reportedly making a delivery to her Baltimore apartment complex.
In a statement, State’s Attorney Alison Healey said the prosecution stands by their argument that “the incident that took the life of Meghan Riley Lewis was undoubtedly a First-Degree Murder.”
“While we are disappointed and saddened by the outcome, we respect the jury’s decision in this case and their role in the judicial process,” Healey said, adding that they will seek the maximum penalty of 30 years.
Friends told WJZ last December that Lewis was “a very open, loving and sparkly individual.” A parent of two, whose motto was “stay sparkly,” also reportedly founded a patient support group for Baltimore-bound trans people seeking gender-affirming care and surgery.
“She opened her doors, her heart, everything for LGBT individuals and was one of the strongest advocates in supporting them,” one friend said.