HoCo Man Found Guilty Of 2nd Degree Murder In 18-Year-Old's Death

Columbia MD

20 May, 2022

3:15 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A 24-year-old Columbia man has been found guilty of second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Simeon Mukuna. On Feb. 6, 2021, officers from the Howard County Police Department arrived at the 7500 block of Monarch Mills Way for a report of a shooting. Officers found Mukuna lying on the ground with gunshot wounds. Paramedics tried to save him, but Mukuna died at the scene. Witnesses told police officers that Mukuna was helping a friend with vehicle maintenance. Mukuna walked to another vehicle to grab a jacket. As he walked back across the parking lot, a vehicle pulled up alongside him and the driver of that vehicle, Shawndel Weems, began shooting at Mukuna, hitting him multiple times. Weems then parked his vehicle and walked into a nearby apartment where he lived. A searchwarrant executed in Weems' apartment revealed a 9mm handgun and 1 magazine with live rounds in it. The weapon was found with Weems' handgun qualification license next to it. Weems later told investigators that when he drove through the parking lot he felt as though Mukuna was looking at him with malice and thought he was going to try to harm him. Weems alleged Mukuna was in possession of a handgun. Weems did not know Mukuna, nor had he ever seen him before, according to court documents. No weapon was found near or on Mukuna and no other witnesses observed Mukuna with a gun. "This loss of life was senseless and utterly unnecessary. We have an 18-year-old young man who had a bright future ahead of him and it was cut short over nothing," said State's Attorney Rich Gibson. "Weems' actions are inexcusable. There is a family in immeasurable pain due to his choice to engage in violence. We thank the jury for this verdict and hope it brings the victim's family some solace." Weems will be sentenced Sept. 30. He faces up to 60 years of in prison.