Meghan Riley Lewis's Suspected Shooter Released From Jail: Report

BEL AIR, MD? The man suspected of shooting a transgender woman in the parking lot of her condominium complex has been released on recognizance, according to online court records.

Brian Michael Delen, 47, of the 500 block of Park Manor Circle in Bel Air, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and firearms charges after police say he killed 53-year-old Meghan Riley Lewis following an argument. Delen was delivering food around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to the English Country Manor neighborhood along Churchill Road when he got into an argument with Lewis, Patch reported previously.

Delen saw Lewis walking toward his vehicle and said something like "Are you waiting for a food delivery, sir," according to the charging documents. Delen said Lewis was offended by his remarks, CBS News reported, believing that he had misgendered her and began yelling at him.

As Delen drove off, Lewis followed on foot. Delen stopped his vehicle and re-engaged with Lewis, court documents state, which is when the fight became physical. At that point, Delen pulled out a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun and shot Lewis in her stomach. Bel Air police found her in the parking lot and took her to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

"(Delen) immediately surrendered to them (officers). They took him into custody and found a semi-automatic pistol on his person. From that point, they also saw the victim lying on the ground," Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore told 11 News. "It's a tragic and needless loss of life."

Delen must wear a GPS monitor. His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25, according to CBS News.

Members of the local LGBTQ community have described Lewis as "uplifting" and a committed supporter of transgender people in Maryland.

"She was an incredibly bright light and huge asset to the transgender community. She was one of the most decent kind people I've ever known in my entire life," Tina Castle, a friend of Lewis, told WMAR.

"That's just who she was as a person - she was always interested in uplifting our fellow community members," added Lee Blinder, the executive director of Trans Maryland, a group that supports the trans community across the state. "She had even, just over the holiday, recently made a post in one of the community groups offering for folks to join her at her home for a holiday dinner, and that's just who Meghan was."

Police are asking for any witnesses to come forward with information or video of the confrontation by calling investigators at 410-638-4500.