A man accused of murder must appear in court after killing a man at a barbecue.

BALTIMORE COUNTY – Jury selection in the murder trial of Lydell Darien begins Friday.

He is accused of shooting Shawn Stewart at a barbecue in Randallstown last year.

The last year has been tough for Stewart's family.
His life ended at the age of 49.

Stewart's family tells WMAR-2 News they want justice.

Not a day goes by when James Stewart doesn’t think about his son Shawn Stewart.

“I think about him every day and it's been hard to process because it's like his life was stolen,” said James Stewart.

On July 22, 2023, Baltimore County Police were called to the 8600 block of Lucerne Road in Randallstown for a shooting.

When they arrived, they found Stewart suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital where he died.

“We used to talk on the phone every day, and now that I can't talk to him anymore, I just try to keep his memory alive,” said Harold Jones, Stewart's older brother.

Jones wants his brother's killer to pay for his actions.

“We want justice. We demand the maximum punishment for what happened to my brother,” Jones said.

This tragedy is especially hard for Jones and James Stewart because the man accused of killing Shawn Stewart was a family friend.

According to the charging documents, a verbal argument occurred between Darien and Stewart during the barbecue.

According to witnesses, Darien left and later returned to shoot Stewart.

“It was as if it was a premeditated murder that he didn't see coming,” said James Stewart.

“It's important to remember those who have been killed by gun violence, those who are family. We all want closure. But sometimes we need to stop and remember the loved ones we have lost,” Jones said.

Darien is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree assault, among other charges.

The trial is expected to take a week.