| Preferred Name | Meghan Riley Lewis | City | Bel Air | ||
| Other Names Used | State | MD | |||
| Age | 57 | Gender Identity | Transwoman | ||
| Race | White | Date of Death | 12/28/2023 |
Crime Category: Altercation | Weapon Used: Gun
On December 28th, 2023, in Bel Air, MD, Meghan was shot during an altercation with a delivery driver near her house. She died at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.
Report: “Delen told police he asked Lewis something to the effect of “Are you waiting for a food delivery, sir” and that Lewis took offense to Delen misgendering her. Delen drove away, but Lewis followed on foot, according to charging documents. Then Delen stopped the car and reengaged with Lewis.
Shortly after, Delen brought out a gun and fired a round, hitting Lewis in the left abdomen, according to charging documents. Medics transported Lewis to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead that night, police said.”
Location: 600 block of Churchill Road, Bel Air, MD, at about 3:15 p.m.
Personal Information:
USA Today: Meghan was a parent and “…donated time, money, food and love to Baltimore Safe Haven, the state’s only full-service housing and wellness center for LGBTQ+ people.”
“Meghan was sparkly,” said Iya Dammons, Baltimore Safe Haven’s founder and executive director and Lewis’ friend. “She made sure our kids were able to have a Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving dinner, whatever they needed to smile. She was always sending over sparkly things.”
Murder Suspect:
Brian Michael Delen
47 | White
Charged: First and Second-Degree Murder and Assault
Hate Crime: Not Charged
Last Update: 02/18/2024
Current Status: Awaiting Trial
Case ID: C-12-CR-24-000088
Police Report: 202300328744
Disposition Date: 01/03/2024
Circuit Court For Harford County – Criminal
State of Maryland Vs. Brian Michael Delen
Hearing is scheduled: 05/21/2024
According to Delen, he was making a delivery to the area, saw Lewis standing outside and assumed she was waiting for the order. He allegedly called out, “Are you waiting for a food delivery, sir,” There has been no information to indicate if Delen did so on purpose or as a mistake.
News Report: “A man who allegedly shot and killed a transgender woman outside of her Harford County apartment complex in December now faces harsher charges and will be held without bail after outrage over his release, according to court records.
Brian Delen, 47, is now charged with first-degree murder in addition to second-degree murder, assault, and firearms-related charges in the alleged killing of 57-year-old Meghan Riley Lewis.”
“Delen’s public defender said he had a “strong self-defense argument.” Delen allegedly called 911 after Lewis was shot and rendered aid using his own first aid kit, according to the public defender.”
Charging documents show that Delen had a wear and carry permit.
Report: “Delen was initially held at the Harford County Detention Center without bond but was released on his own recognizance the day after the shooting; however, according to jail records, he was rebooked into the detention center Jan. 31. and according to court records, was denied home detention Feb. 2.”
USA Today: “Bel Air Police, in response to USA TODAY’s inquiry, said in an email that “nothing in our investigation thus far has indicated any motive related to anti-transgender or homophobic sentiment.”
News Timeline: 01/02/2024 | 01/04/2024 | 01/05/2024 | 01/07/2024 | 02/02/2024 | 02/18/2024
HRC. (2024, January 5). HRC Remembers Meghan Riley Lewis, Transgender Woman Who Devoted Her Life to Feeding Hungry and Unhoused Queer People. Human Rights Campaign. https://www.hrc.org/news/hrc-remembers-meghan-riley-lewis-transgender-woman-killed-in-maryland
Mattu, R., & Foreback, C. (2024, February 4). Charges upgraded, bail denied for suspect in killing of transgender woman in Bel Air – Meghan Riley Lewis. WJZ News. https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/deliver-driver-shoots-kills-transgender-woman-meghan-lewis-maryland/
Mullan, D. (2024, February 18). Harford County jury trial set for man accused of murdering transgender woman Meghan Lewis in Bel Air. MSN – Baltimore Sun. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/harford-county-jury-trial-set-for-man-accused-of-murdering-transgender-woman-meghan-lewis-in-bel-air/ar-BB1iulNS
Olaniran, C., & Gessler, P. (2024, January 2). Suspect in killing of transgender Bel Air woman released on GPS home monitoring, ordered to surrender firearms – Meghan Riley Lewis. WJZ News. https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/suspect-in-killing-of-bel-air-woman-released-on-gps-home-monitoring/
Riedel, S. (2024, January 4). Marylanders Mourn Meghan Lewis, “Bright” and “Kind” Trans Advocate Killed Outside Her Home. Them. https://www.them.us/story/meghan-lewis-maryland-shot-killed-trans-advocate
Trethan, P. (2024, January 7). Trans woman hosted a holiday dinner for those who were alone. Days later, she was killed. – Meghan Riley Lewis. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/07/transgender-woman-meghan-lewis-killed/72096004007/
Images are publicly available through public sources, personal posts, family members and information websites as well as stills from cited videos and news websites. Images are digitally enhanced for artistic purposes. All information is accurate to the best of the author’s knowledge at time of publishing. Updates will be made as needed.
