Annapolis, MD – On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, Andre Raquan Riggs, age 28, of Middle River pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and Firearm Use in a Felony Crime of Violence in the August 2022 shooting death of 27-year-old Matthew Ponder, of Glen Burnie. The Honorable Judge Robert Thompson scheduled sentencing for November 19, 2026.
Following the guilty plea, State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess commented, “This was certainly a terrifying home invasion that ultimately resulted in the tragic death of Mr. Ponder. Digital evidence played a critical role in identifying this defendant, who came to the home armed with a gun for the purpose of stealing valuables in the middle of the night. I want to commend detectives and Assistant State’s Attorney Poma for their work in bringing this defendant to justice.”
On August 31, 2022 at approximately 2:24 a.m., Anne Arundel County Police officers and paramedics responded to a home in the 400 block of M Street Northeast in Glen Burnie for the report of a shooting. First responders located the victim, 27-year-old Matthew Ponder, inside the residence suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Ponder was pronounced deceased at the scene by paramedics.
The victim was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in Baltimore where an autopsy was performed. Ponder’s death was ruled a homicide by gunfire.
Investigators reviewed video surveillance footage from the residence and locations nearby to establish two potential suspects. The video showed those individuals approach the home prior to the shooting and then flee the home after the murder. The video also showed the suspects arrived in the area of the residence and parked on a parallel street near the house in a passenger vehicle. The suspects then used that vehicle to flee the scene after the murder.
Additional video surveillance from the home showed the two suspects approach the rear door wearing hooded sweatshirts. After approaching the door several times and walking away, they returned to cover the rear camera with a plastic bag.
Inside the home, Matthew Ponder and an adult female victim were robbed by the two suspects. The surviving female victim told investigators that the perpetrators took numerous items from within the residence including some “older and collectible” currency.
Digital evidence placed the defendant in close proximity to the residence at the time of the crime. It also showed that the defendant searched the internet for the victim’s address prior to the murder and the value of a “1950 ten-dollar bill” following the murder.
The State was represented by Assistant State’s Attorney Kelly M. Poma. The investigation was led by Detective Juan Honesto and the Anne Arundel County Police Homicide Unit.