Photo of Meghan Lewis: Social
Members of the LGBTQ community in the Baltimore area are outraged by a Maryland judge’s decision to release from jail the delivery driver who is accused of murdering and shooting transgender woman Meghan Riley Lewis while he waits for his trial.
On December 27, Lewis was killed in Bel Air after a confrontation with Brian Delen while he was delivering food to her apartment complex.
She had allegedly been misgendered by the 47-year-old Delen. “Sir, are you waiting for food delivery?” he remarked.
Lewis was offended and followed Delen as he tried to leave in his vehicle.
As the argument escalated, Delen pulled over in the parking lot, pulled out a gun, and shot Lewis, striking her in the lower abdomen.
Delen called 911 after the shooting, according to a police report, and surrendered immediately to the officers who arrived at the scene. They detained him and found a semi-automatic handgun on his person.
Lewis was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died from her injuries.
Delen was charged with both first-degree assault and second-degree murder. The Bel Air resident was initially held in the Harford County Detention Center without bail. After his first court appearance, Harford County District Administrative Judge Susan Hazlett allowed Delen the possibility of release on his own recognizance as long as he remains under home confinement and agrees to GPS monitoring.
Delen has not yet met additional requirements for that release and is currently in custody, Bel Air authorities told Baltimore NBC affiliate WBAL. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on January 25.
Delen’s public defender claimed that his client had a “strong self-defense case,” citing his attempt to call 911 and render aid to Lewis after shooting her, according to CBS affiliate WJZ News.
Local community members who protested outside the Harford County Circuit Courthouse on January 8 believe Delen should never have been given the opportunity to avoid jail time in the first place.
Some have argued that he should be charged with a hate crime.
Iya Dammons, the executive director of Baltimore Safe Haven and a close friend of Lewis, said at the protest, “You’re letting murderers think it’s okay to kill trans people.”
Dammons added, “Harford County is sending a message to LGBTQ people at the end of the day that they are not treating transgender people fairly.”
Another protester questioned Delen’s eligibility for release while awaiting trial, noting that Lewis had not been armed at the time of the incident.
Renee Lau, the executive director for senior and disabled advocacy at Maryland Safe Haven, told CBS News that it is “unconscionable” for someone facing a second-degree murder charge to be free.
Prosecutors had requested that Delen remain held without bail, according to a statement from the state’s attorney for Harford County, Alison Healey. The office stated that it is “working closely with the Bel Air Police Department and the investigators assigned to this case, who are conducting a thorough investigation, reviewing all evidence, and determining what additional charges are appropriate,” but it could not comment on the specifics of the case.
Some LGBTQ people in the area knew the 57-year-old Lewis as a kind, welcoming, and giving woman who had befriended many of them when they were first coming out. According to The Baltimore Banner, Lewis, who self-described as a “queer Gen X mama,” had opened her home on Christmas to “queer kids” who might be alone during the holiday season. She promised them an evening of delicious food, games, and camaraderie.
Some members of the LGBTQ community remembered Lewis as a “bright light” for the community and someone who put others before themselves on January 2.
Lia Scher told WJZ News, “This community is losing a family member.” “She did everything she could to help everyone. This person had a profound impact on our community in many ways. She touched more lives than we can count. The least we can do is fight for her because she fought for our rights.”
