TOWSON, MD. (Sept. 13, 2014) — Baltimore County Police have charged four men in connection with the August 17 shooting at the Welcome Inn that left a man deceased.

  • Umar Hydeem Amin Foust (22) of the 4700 block of Wards Chapel Road 21117
  • Nathaniel Martin Lawrence (20) of the 5800 block of Waycross Road 21206
  • Pompey Olivon Lawrence (21) of no fixed address
  • Jermell Lamont Foster (19) of the Unit block of Mercury Court 21234

Umar Hydeem Amin Foust, Nathaniel Martin Lawrence, and Pompey Olivon Lawrence are charged with first degree murder. Jermell Lamont Foster is charged with first degree murder, use of a handgun during a felony, and a handgun violation. All four men are being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Just before 11 p.m. on August 17, Baltimore County Police and Fire personnel responded to the Welcome Inn (8700 block of Loch Bend Drive 21234) for a report of a shooting. Upon arriving at the location, officers discovered 30-year-old Ramel Keith Baker lying in an alley suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was declared deceased.

The initial investigation into this incident has indicated that the victim was in an alley when he was approached and shot by the suspects. Investigators believe that the victim and the suspects were involved in some sort of on-going dispute.

A key to a possible link to the murder of Baker lies in the Maryland court records.

Baker was charged with drug distribution and possession on August 26, 2013 and on Nov. 22, 2013, all four charges against him were dropped by the Baltimore County States Attorney.  Often those with pending criminal charges are able to escape those charges by informing on competing drug dealers.

If Baker informed on one or more of those accused of killing him, such a possible motivation would be explored by police.

In Baker’s court case, there was no attorney or public defender noted on the record, meaning Baker must not have needed one in order to have the States Attorney drop his criminal charges.

Pompey Lawrence receive eighteen months’ probation in Baltimore County Circuit Court in a plea deal with the Baltimore County States Attorney on Oct. 27, 2011. He had been charged by a Baltimore Grand Jury indictment with multiple counts of attempted robbery and assault and entered a guilty plea as part of his deal. He had been ordered to pay court costs and supervision fees through parole and probation and later on March 27, 2012 Circuit Court Judge Nagle agreed to waive the supervision fees.  Pompey Lawrence was represented by Public Defender Jerome Joyce, who was paid for by the taxpayers of Maryland.

With a previous conviction on his record, Lawrence stood to be treated more severely if caught up in another criminal charge.

Jermell Lamont Foster may be young but he is rapidly building his credentials as a home-grown Maryland criminal. In addition to his current murder charge, he won special recognition from Baltimore Police Officer Timothy Kratz for the following: theft, burglary and rogue & vagabond on May 18, 2014. That case is set for Oct. 28th in Baltimore County District Court.

 

  • Just before 11 p.m. on August 17, Baltimore County Police and Fire personnel responded to the Welcome Inn (8700 block of Loch Bend Drive 21234) for a report of a shooting. Upon arriving at the location, officers discovered 30-year-old Ramel Keith Baker lying in an alley suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was declared deceased

 

  • Just before 11 p.m. on August 17, Baltimore County Police and Fire personnel responded to the Welcome Inn (8700 block of Loch Bend Drive 21234) for a report of a shooting. Upon arriving at the location, officers discovered 30-year-old Ramel Keith Baker lying in an alley suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was declared deceased