Meghan Riley Lewis died barefoot, Harford County State’s Attorney David Ryden told jurors Tuesday.

Never mind that it was pouring rain that December night in 2023. Lewis had gone out to try to convince a dinner guest, who was arguing with his partner, to come into his condo, Ryden said.

But shortly after, she was shot dead. by a food delivery driver.

“Without shoes, that’s how he bled to death in the cold December rain, two days after Christmas,” Ryden said.

Brian Delen, 48, of Bel Air, is loaded with first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault and use of a firearm in the murder of Lewis.

His trial began Tuesday in a Harford County courtroom packed with Lewis’ friends. Some knew her through her activism (Lewis, a trans woman, was an advocate for LGBTQ people), others through her. love for the grateful dead. she was known for its generositysense of humor and his slogan: Stay brilliant.

What is in dispute at trial is not whether Delen shot Lewis to death, but why. Delen’s lawyers said he acted out of fear and self-defense. Witnesses presented by prosecutors, however, say they did not hear any altercation.

Food delivery, particularly through GrubHub and DoorDash, is Delen’s main source of income, said Tara LeCompte, one of his attorneys. This is how you rent a small room in a house in Bel Air and pay for your car insurance and your hobbies. He has been a delivery driver since 2019, LeCompte said.

Barbara Deluca, a retired government employee who lives in the building next to Lewis, was getting ready to watch a movie the night of Dec. 27, she told jurors. He placed an order at Asian Cafe around 5:52 p.m.

Delen picked up his order and drove to English Country Manor, a condominium community in Bel Air, LeCompte said.

Delen parked and saw Lewis outside, her attorney said, and thought she might be the person who placed the order. “Did you order food, sir?” his lawyer said he asked. Lewis, the lawyer said, became upset.

LeCompte said Delen rolled up his window and moved to another parking spot. Then, Lewis approached him.

She was standing by his door, LeCompte said, and Delen felt trapped.

Delen then pulled his gun from its side holster and shot Lewis, LeCompte said. He screamed for help and then called 911 himself. He told them he shot someone, LeCompte said.

“This was a chance encounter between a lady trying to save her dinner and a delivery driver,” he told the jury.

Witnesses presented by prosecutors Tuesday said they did not hear screams or an altercation between Lewis and Delen that would have led to the shooting.

Diamond Vélez-Figueroa, the 23-year-old dinner guest Lewis had gone out to pick up, was sitting in a car and saw Delen arrive at the condo community. There were no noises, shouts or altercations, he told the jury, until a loud bang was heard. Lewis was pronounced dead that same night at a nearby hospital.

The trial is expected to continue until early next week.