Dante Barnes, a 39-year-old community advocate with Baltimore’s Safe Streets program, was found shot on the evening of July 11, 2015, in the 2600 block of Boone Street. He sustained a fatal gunshot wound and his death was ruled a homicide. Barnes was widely noted for mediating conflicts and working to curb violence in troubled neighborhoods, so his killing was felt as a serious loss by the community he served.

Investigators charged 29-year-old Garrick Powell with first-degree homicide and several gun-related offenses months after the killing. Prosecutors’ case relied on circumstantial evidence including a handgun found in Powell’s vehicle, cell phone location data, and surveillance footage. At trial the defense challenged the strength of that evidence, and after about two hours of deliberation the jury acquitted Powell of all charges. The lack of direct evidence was cited in court as a key factor in the verdict.

The murder of Dante Barnes remains officially unsolved. If anyone knew Barnes, saw activity in the 2600 block of Boone Street on July 11, 2015, or has information that could help, please come forward.