Baltimore County police have released the name of the 44-year-old man they say was beaten to death by a neighbor in his Lansdowne home Thursday.
Police were called to the residence of Charles Leslie Smyth in the 3700 block of Songbird Circle at about 8:41 p.m. for a report of a man suffering from unknown injuries. Officers found Smyth lying on the floor inside the home, surrounded by blood. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
After speaking to a witness, police arrested Tashawn "Savage" Amin Raheem, 19, who lived next door to Smyth, and Troy Eric Barnes, 23, of the 2500 block of Southdene Ave. in Baltimore. Both were charged with first-degree murder.
The witness told police that Raheem attempted to break into Smyth's home. When Smyth told Raheem he was going to call 911, Raheem began to force his way in. The witness told officers that Raheem returned to his own home and bragged that he "choked out" Smyth.
Then, both Raheem and Barnes, who was at Raheem's residence, returned to Smyth's house and began to steal items, police said. Barnes later told police that he was there when Raheem struck Smyth over the head with a metal pipe. The two men were seen leaving Smyth's home in bloody clothes, which Barnes told police they disposed of.
Both men are being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center.
According to electronic court records, Raheem has faced charges including carjacking, robbery and first- and second-degree assault dating to 2007, but all cases were dropped. He was released June 30 after a first-degree assault charge was dismissed.
Baltimore County police spokesman Lt. Robert McCullough said Smyth's death is the 12th homicide in the county this year — all of which have been cleared.
An earlier version of this article included an incorrect figure for the number of homicides in the county so far this year. The Sun regrets the error.