A Baltimore jury has convicted Darryl Anderson, the first suspect dubbed "Public Enemy No. 1" by city police, in a 2013 shooting that left two women dead and another critically injured.
It was part of a string of violence linked to Anderson, 27, an alleged gang hit man. He was convicted in December in a murder in Baltimore County, and he faces charges in another shooting.
Anderson, who was convicted Thursday of two counts of second-degree murder in the Baltimore case, could be sentenced to life plus 400 years.
Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby praised witnesses "who stood up and testified against a known murderer in open court," and said others must come forward to help solve cases and tamp down violence.
"If we want Baltimore to be a safer city for people to live and to work, we need more acts of courage like we've seen in this case," Mosby said.
Also convicted was Tierra Fallin, 31, who prosecutors say recruited and directed Anderson and another man to "do what y'all do" before Anderson opened fire on a crowded porch in East Baltimore. The second man has not been identified.
Michelle Hitchens, 51, and Gennie Shird, 20, were killed. Cierra Williams was critically wounded in the shooting.
The verdict was returned late Thursday after a trial that began Monday. Fallin, who was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and other charges, faces a life sentence plus 240 years, officials said. Anderson and Fallin are scheduled to be sentenced March 24.
The shooting occurred June 27, 2013, in the 3300 block of Elmora Ave. Assistant State's Attorney Angela Diehl told jurors that Fallin was in a long-running dispute with a woman named Tomeka Bishop. Fallin argued with Bishop's daughter that night and vowed to return with supporters.
Shird died that night. Hitchens suffered what were initially described as nonlife-threatening injuries, but developed an embolism a few weeks later and died.
At trial, Bishop testified that she saw a picture of Anderson and had no doubt he was the shooter. But she said she did not see the shots being fired and that the incident happened quickly, leaving her in shock.
Diehl said Friday that five other witnesses identified Anderson as the shooter.
At the time of the shooting, Anderson was wanted for his alleged role in the killing of Derrick Gamble, 31, outside the bar Tee-Bee's in Parkville in July 2012. Gamble was shot 12 times as he backed out of a parking spot.
Anderson also was charged in a double shooting June 30, 2013, in the 5800 block of Moore's Run Court.
In July 2013, Anderson was arrested by U.S. marshals in Alabama. He was charged with stabbing someone while in jail in Baltimore County.
Deputy Commissioner Kevin Davis said police believe Anderson was a hit man for the Black Guerrilla Family gang. Maj. Stanley Brandford, commander of Baltimore's homicide unit, said Anderson's name has surfaced in other killings that have not resulted in charges.
Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts called Anderson "Public Enemy No. 1" and sought the community's help in finding him. It was the first use of a campaign that police would use to highlight wanted fugitives in the summer of 2013.
Mosby commended Batts for the initiative, calling it "innovative" and saying it "created a highly effective public awareness campaign to swiftly bring this individual to justice."
Police used the label at least three more times, but not since February 2014. Davis, a former Anne Arundel County police chief who joined Baltimore's department this month, said city police have not abandoned it.
"It's never gone away; it's here to stay," Davis said. "When we get a moment where we need to identify the next Public Enemy No. 1, we will do so right away."