The trial for an Abingdon teen charged with the shooting and killing of one teen and attempted murder of another during a January 2025 birthday party in Aberdeen began Thursday in Harford County Circuit Court.

Bernard Lee, 18, faces 12 charges for his alleged role in the Jan. 5, 2025, shooting, including first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and firearms-related offenses.

Representation for Lee could not be reached for comment.

Four other men were charged for their alleged involvement in the shooting that killed 18-year-old Kylonne Taylor and injured 18-year-old Jaylen Jackson at a home on North Sewards Court in Aberdeen’s new Beechtree Estates community.

One of Lee’s codefendants, Tyjeir Cole, 19, of Aberdeen, faced similar charges and was fully acquitted for his alleged role in the incident during a January trial following five hours of jury deliberation.

Brandon Mead, who represented Cole at that trial, said the investigation was “poorly done.”

Another codefendant, Ezri White, 21, of Bel Air, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in Harford County Circuit Court on Feb. 17. He was sentenced to 25 years, suspending all but 18 months, with just over a year in jail credit, court records show.

A third suspect, Quinton Jackson, 19, of Edgewood, was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to first-degree murder in mid-December.

Charging documents allege the defendants were at a birthday party of 15-20 people in the basement of an Aberdeen home early in the morning of Jan. 5, 2025. Taylor and Jackson were in the basement when they noticed a firearm pointed at them, charging documents say.

The group of teens accused of murder wore black North Face jackets and black ski masks, according to charging documents.

Jackson attempted to wrestle the firearm away when shots were fired, striking Taylor multiple times and hitting Jackson in the left foot, charging documents say.

The fourth defendant, Amir Dorsey, 20, of Edgewood, has a trial date set for early May.

Lee’s trial is expected to go 10 days in Harford County Circuit Court.

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