Annapolis, Maryland – Today, two of the individuals responsible for the May 2025 murder of 18-year-old Jonathan Benjamin Guiliani in Glen Burnie had their cases adjudicated in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, bringing to a close the prosecution of the three individuals linked to the crime. Mekhi Andrew Duncan, 18, of Baltimore, was sentenced to Life in Prison with all but 35 years suspended by the Honorable Judge Richard Trunnell. Duncan pleaded guilty to First-Degree Felony Murder on July 30, 2026.
Additionally, this morning, 18-year-old Mactouko Junior Ryan, of Elkridge, pleaded guilty to First-Degree Felony Murder in the death of Mr. Guiliani. The Honorable Judge Richard Trunnell sentenced Ryan to Life in Prison, suspending all but 25 years of active incarceration. A third person was charged and adjudicated as a juvenile.
Following the guilty plea and sentencings, State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess commented, "Today's sentencings demonstrate justice and accountability for an absolutely senseless crime that took the life of a beloved high school senior. The Court's sentences reflect both the gravity of their actions and their youthful ages. This case is a tragedy, and Jonathan's family has endured pain that no family should have to suffer."
On May 4, 2025, at approximately 4:50 a.m., the Anne Arundel County Police and Fire Department responded to the 800 block of Aquahart Road in Glen Burnie for the report of a shooting. First responders located the victim, identified as Guiliani, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene and taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. An autopsy determined his manner of death was a homicide due to a gunshot.
A witness reported hearing the sound of multiple gunshots and then seeing a male victim run toward and collapse in a grassy area outside of the Crazy Crab restaurant. The witness stated a white sedan fled the area, with its driver running the red light at the intersection of Aquahart Road and Greenway Road SE.
Investigators searched for and collected physical evidence from the crime scene and surrounding area. Seventeen 9mm cartridge cases were recovered at the scene. Additionally, a laser light handgun attachment was found on the ground near the cartridge cases. More evidence was found at the neighboring Exxon gas station, located at 720 Aquahart Road. Investigators recovered a wallet, driver's license, and various cards, which had been discarded by a suspect on the ground near a gas pump.
Detectives obtained video surveillance footage and License Plate Reader (LPR) imagery from multiple sources. The white Acura was later recovered in Baltimore City after being set on fire.
Detectives interviewed the second victim, who described that while walking along the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, a white sedan with multiple masked suspects armed with handguns equipped with laser light beams exited the vehicle and announced a robbery, with one of the suspects running up close to them while pointing a handgun at their heads. The victim said Guiliani grabbed this suspect's handgun and struggled with him over the weapon. During the struggle, the handgun fired, striking Guiliani and killing him. The surviving victim said he ran from the suspects as they fired at him. He said he could hear the bullets passing him as he ran for his life and escaped.
Investigators established Mactouko Ryan as a suspect by linking him to the stolen car. He was also identified as washing the vehicle in the hours before the homicide. Cell phone records mapped Duncan, Ryan, and the charged juvenile traveling to the murder scene, as well as where the stolen white Acura was eventually located.
During a search of Mekhi Duncan's home, police seized two handgun magazines and a 9mm ammunition cartridge. Additionally, camouflage, black masks, and an auto glass breaker were collected as evidence. The Anne Arundel County Police Department's Crime Lab examined physical evidence in this case, including the handgun laser light attachment that fell from the suspect's handgun at the murder scene and Mactouko Ryan's DNA sample. Detectives believe the handgun laser light attachment was knocked off while Ryan was firing a handgun. Ryan's DNA matched the DNA found on the laser light attachment.
The State was represented by Assistant State's Attorney Jeremy Whitlock. The investigation was led by the Anne Arundel County Police Homicide Unit.