Bel Air, MD – November 12, 2024
The trial of a Bel Air delivery driver accused of killing a transgender woman has concluded with a mixed verdict. Brian Delen, 48, was acquitted of murder but convicted of second-degree assault and a gun charge.
Delen shot and killed Meghan Lewis on December 27th of last year in the 600 block of Churchill Road. Prosecutors said Delen was making a food delivery in the area when Lewis approached and confronted him.
According to the charging documents, Delen asked Lewis “are you waiting for a food delivery sir?”, which apparently offended Lewis. Lewis then reportedly began yelling at Delen for misgendering her.
Delen initially drove away, but prosecutors say Lewis followed him on foot, prompting Delen to pull over and confront her. At some point during the confrontation, Delen pulled out a gun and shot Lewis, claiming it was in self-defense.
However, a witness testified that Delen “just leaned out of his car and shot her.” Over the state’s objection, the judge allowed the jury to consider Delen’s claim of self-defense, leading to the acquittal on the murder charge.
“Obviously, this is not the outcome for which we were hoping,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey. “We stand by our arguments to the jury that the incident that took the life of Meghan Riley Lewis was undoubtedly a First Degree Murder.”
Although cleared of murder, Delen still faces decades behind bars for the second-degree assault and gun convictions. “The fact remains that Brian Michael Delen has now been convicted of a crime of violence that took the life of one of our citizens, and we will be seeking the maximum sentence allowed by law, which is thirty years,” Healey stated.
A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
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