UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — A man has been found guilty of murder after a heated argument at a school pep rally spiraled into a deadly confrontation in November 2019.
On Tuesday, Troy Cleveland, 31, of District Heights was found guilty of second-degree murder for shooting and killing Sean Spence in the driveway of his own home on Rollins Lane in Capitol Heights.
Investigators say in November of 2019, Spence's wife arrived home and parked in the driveway. There, she was accosted by a man who pointed a gun at her. At this time, Spence confronted the man who fired multiple shots, striking Spence in the upper body and killing him.
After the deadly shooting, Spence's wife called police. Cleveland ran away from the couple at this point. At the time, police did not know who Cleveland was.
Over two years later, in January 2022, Cleveland turned himself into the Maryland State Police and confessed to the crime. He told detectives there was an argument at a pep rally between his sister and the victim's son prior to the shooting.
"We are pleased that the jury considered the evidence and rendered the appropriate verdict,” said State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. “Mr. Cleveland callously murdered the victim, terrorized, and assaulted his wife with a gun. This family has been left without their loved one because of Mr. Cleveland’s actions and that is unacceptable. I would like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Shauna Coleman and Elena Greene for diligently securing this conviction and justice for this family.”
In addition to murder, Cleveland was convicted of first-degree assault and use of a gun on Aug. 8.
