Daylight Dundalk Drive-By Slay Nets Bethesda Shooter Life Plus 45 Years

A Bethesda man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a Baltimore County jury convicted him in a broad-daylight drive-by that killed a Dundalk man in 2022. Yesterday, 40-year-old Keith Brian Russell was sentenced to life in prison plus 45 years after jurors found him guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, conspiracy, and use of a firearm in a crime of violence. Circuit Court Judge Keith R. Truffer imposed the stacked sentence immediately after Russell elected to be sentenced on the spot, closing what officials describe as a nearly four-year investigation that rattled a tight-knit neighborhood.

The jury convicted Russell of first-degree premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. Judge Truffer ordered life imprisonment plus an additional 45 years following the verdict, according to CBS Baltimore.

Police say the shooting unfolded on the afternoon of March 2, 2022, on the 1900 block of Ewald Avenue in Dundalk. Officers were called around 2:30 p.m. and found 43-year-old Tayvon Scott suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died. Neighbors told reporters they heard what sounded like a barrage of gunfire and saw a man leaning out of a van as people rushed in to help, according to EastBaltCo.

Investigation and prosecution

Prosecutors say two people opened fire on Scott from both the driver and passenger seats of a vehicle, one wielding a .223 rifle and the other a .45 handgun. The case quickly grew far beyond one block in Dundalk, pulling in investigators from Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties, as well as the ATF and the FBI.

"This case demonstrates our relentless commitment to hold violent criminals accountable," ATF Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer said. Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger praised the "tireless hard work" of Deputy State’s Attorney John Cox and Assistant State’s Attorney Zarena Sita in securing Russell’s conviction, according to NottinghamMD.

Neighbors remember the shooting

Residents told local TV crews they heard six or seven gunshots cut through the quiet of the block, followed by the sound of breaking glass. They reported seeing shattered glass scattered around the victim’s vehicle after the barrage. Nearby Sandy Plains Elementary briefly went into lockdown after the attack as a precaution, adding to the afternoon chaos. Those eyewitness accounts and neighborhood details were captured in early coverage, per CBS Baltimore.

Next steps

Russell chose to be sentenced immediately after the jury returned its verdict, skipping any delay between conviction and punishment. Prosecutors say the outcome brings an arduous, multi-jurisdictional investigation to a formal close in the fatal 2022 shooting.

One major question still hangs over the case: whether a second suspect has been charged in connection with the ambush-style attack. That remains unclear, and defense attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to NottinghamMD.