A late-night dispute outside an adult entertainment club in downtown Baltimore ended in death on September 3, 2023. Stephon Stinnett, 29, was shot once in the chest shortly after 1 a.m. on the 400 block of East Baltimore Street near Norma Jean’s. He was taken to a hospital and later died of his wound.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that captured a confrontation in which Kwante Betters pulled a handgun and pointed it at Stinnett before a physical altercation. Two acquaintances of Betters later identified him from a photo array; Betters was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and firearm offenses. The autopsy found methamphetamine and other amphetamines in Stinnett’s system, and the defense at trial said Stinnett had threatened Betters and was carrying a sharp item later identified as a can opener.

The case raises questions about what the surveillance footage shows in the moments before the shot and about witness identifications; anyone with information about Stinnett’s last hours on The Block is asked to come forward.