Tyrone Curtis was found guilty by a jury in Montgomery County Circuit Court of first-degree murder for the April 5, 2023 killing of Amonte Cunningham on Jan. 24, before before the Honorable Jeannie Cho, the State’s Attorney’s Office said. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 5, 2024.
Curtis and Cunningham had been arguing on a Metro Transit bus in Wheaton around 12:25 p.m., officials said.
Cunningham got off the bus when it stopped in front of 11304 Amherst Ave., and was followed by Curtis with his knife blade out and by his side, police said.
Curtis then stabbed Cunningham one time in the upper torso. The victim collapse on the sidewalk. Video of the incident was captured by surveillance cameras on the bus.
“This was a verbal altercation between strangers that the defendant senselessly escalated,” State’s Attorney John McCarthy said.
“There was zero justification for the use of a deadly weapon, and he will pay the consequences. We express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Amontae Cunningham and thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Thea Zumwalt and Caitlin Murphy for the successful prosecution of this case.”