Men sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years for killing teen, wounding another

BALTIMORE, MD (WBFF) — Two men were sentenced to life in prison for the deadly 2024 shooting of a teenager that also left a second one injured, the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City announced Thursday.

Charles Robinson and Korey Hopson were each sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years in prison for the deadly shooting of 17-year-old Denzel Johnson and injuring a 15-year-old at the same time.

Both men were found guilty by a jury in September 2025 of first-degree murder and second-degree murder among other related charges.

On May 25, 2024, around 3:45 p.m., Baltimore Police responded to the area for a reported shooting.

As a result, a juvenile victim was transported and treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital and survived, while a second juvenile victim, later identified as Johnson, died of his injuries at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Hospital.

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Around 10:00 p.m. that evening, authorities began a canvass around the area of the 4600 block of Rokeby Road, which was near the most recent location of a vehicle that was suspected to be involved in the shooting.

Detectives observed the suspect vehicle traveling eastbound through the area and began to follow when they saw the car drive off the road and into the wood line in the 3900 block of Stokes Drive.

At that time, two men, later identified as Robinson and Hopson, exited the car and moved to the rear of the vehicle.

Authorities saw what they believed to be a flicker of a flame near where the men were seen, and they decided to move in to attempt to apprehend the men before they could set a fire to the car that would destroy evidence.

When police approached the car, the suspects fled northbound on foot into the woods.

About two blocks away, police saw the men run out of the woods in the vicinity of the 4100 block of Stokes Drive.

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Authorities were able to arrest Hopson, while Robinson ran out of view.

Inside the vehicle, police found Safeway brand lighter fluid, and video footage from a Safeway store showed Hopson purchasing the fluid.

Police also discovered a cell phone from Hopson at the time of his arrest, and after utilizing cellular data from the phone, they were able to identify the cell number of the other suspect, Robinson, and later arrest him.

Authorities said that Hopson’s DNA was found on the lighter fluid bottle and a ski mask recovered from the car, and both men’s finger prints were found inside the vehicle.

Both men were prohibited from possessing guns at the time of the shooting due to previous convictions.

“This case is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating and lasting consequences of gun violence involving our young people. One teenage boy lost his life far too soon, while another will carry the physical and emotional trauma of this senseless act for the rest of his life,” said Deputy State’s Attorney Thomas M. Donnelly, via a press release. “No sentence can restore what was taken from these victims, their families, and this community, but we hope today’s outcome provides a measure of justice and accountability. I want to commend our homicide prosecutors for their tireless work throughout this lengthy and highly complex joint trial. I also extend my gratitude to the Baltimore Police Detectives whose coordination, persistence, and investigative efforts made this result possible.”

Now, both Hopson and Robinson are set to spend life in prison.