A Baltimore jury convicted a 23-year-old gang member of first-degree murder, even though three witnesses against him recanted their testimony, the city State's Attorney's Office announced Monday.
Tyrone Burris, identified during trial as a member of the Black Guerilla Family, was found guilty Friday of shooting another man six times in February 2009 because the gang ordered it. "This is the way we do it," Burris told witnesses after the murder, according to the prosecution.
Three people who indicted Burris was the shooter had recanted by trial time last week. But Assistant State's Attorney Rita Wisthoff-Ito was still able to play taped versions of their declarations to police in court.
Jurors returned guilty verdicts, on murder and handgun charges, after four hours of deliberation, the Baltimore State's Attorney's Office said. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 2 in city Circuit Court.