2 Charged in December Towson Town Center Shooting Face Trial

A trial started this week for two of four men charged in a .

William Ward III, of the 600 block of Cator Avenue in Baltimore, and Frank Theodore Williams, of the 2900 block of Lakebrook Circle in Halethorpe, were arrested in February in connection with the Dec. 21 shooting.

According to a press release from the Baltimore County State's Attorney's office, the trial began yesterday in Baltimore County Circuit Court and is expected to conclude by Friday.

A trial for the alleged gunman, Tyrone Chester Brown Jr. of Baltimore, is set to start Sept. 11. A trial for alleged accomplice Jermell Brandon, originally set for this week, has been postponed.

All four men are charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, first-degree assault and firearm use in a violent crime. Brown is also charged with handgun violations.

Police in connection with the death of 19-year-old Rodney Vest Pridget, who was found dead outside Nordstrom in Towson. The shooting rattled businesses and holiday shoppers.

Police said in February that the four allegedly stalked Pridget in the mall and followed him out before Brown fired several shots.

It was the first homicide at Towson Town Center since 2005, when St. Paul's teacher and administrator William Bassett was shot and killed in a botched robbery.