ECI Inmate Appeals Life Sentence for Gang-Related Murder of Cellmate

WESTOVER, Md. – An inmate at the Eastern Correctional Institute (ECI) has received a life sentenced for the murder of his cellmate in Sept. 2024.

On Mar. 5, following a three-day jury trial, 27-year-old Leslie Broadway of Annapolis was found guilty of first and second degree murder, first and second degree assault, and reckless endangerment. Following a pre-sentence investigation, Broadway was sentenced to life in prison on Jun. 24.

According to court documents obtained by WMDT, Broadway filed a motion to appeal his conviction on Friday, Jun. 26, in the Appellate Court of Maryland. WMDT reached out to Somerset County State’s Attorney’s Wess Garner, who says he is aware of the appeal.

According to the State’s Attorney’s Office, on Sept. 20, 2024, Maryland State Police and investigators responded to the ECI for a reported homicide. An investigation revealed that Broadway and the victim, identified as 38-year-old Virgil Robinson, Jr., were incarcerated together in a cell in the segregation unit. A segregation unit is defined as a specialized area where an inmate is isolated from the general prison population.

During rounds, a correctional officer noticed through the locked cell door that Robinson was lying on the floor unresponsive, noting a liquid on Robinson’s back. Officers also observed Broadway acting erratically and removed him from the cell. Broadway made comments about urinating on Robinson, and went on to say that they shouldn’t put Bloods and Crips together in a cell.

Authorities say Robinson’s autopsy report showed he died of multiple injuries, including asphyxia, a fractured hyoid bone, and blunt force injuries to the head, neck and torso.

This sentencing follows another life sentence recently issued to 27-year-old Tyjuan Chapple, a different ECI inmate convicted of murdering his cellmate in Mar. 2025.