Public safety reporter

Dan Belson

Dan Belson is a public safety reporter for The Baltimore Sun's city desk, focused on Baltimore's justice system as well as Maryland's federal courts. He's also reported award-winning stories for The Capital, Southern Maryland News and The Dundalk Eagle. A lifelong Marylander, Dan was raised in Anne Arundel County and graduated from St. Mary's College of Maryland, where he managed the campus newspaper and radio station. You can reach him on Signal at @danbels.62. Email him at dbelson@baltsun.com.

In a 2020 file photo, Dr. Ron Elfenbein reaches for sanitary equipment while offering COVID-19 tests. (Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun Staff)

Federal judge overturns jury’s guilty verdict in Gambrills doctor’s health care fraud case

December 29, 2023 at 4:51 p.m.

U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar ruled last week that the evidence presented in the August trial was not sufficient enough to find Dr. Ron Elfenbein guilty of health care...

A row of decorated homes on Hampden's "Miracle on 34th Street" before their festive lights were activated Wednesday. The two homes on the block decorated with Hanukkah-themed adornments were vandalized Saturday. (Dan Belson/Staff photo)

Vandalism at Hanukkah-decorated homes on Hampden’s ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ dampers festive Baltimore tradition

December 28, 2023 at 3:54 p.m.

The vandalism, mainly smashed fruit being thrown on lawns, was targeted at the only two houses on the block in North Baltimore with Jewish imagery.

Bandhunta Izzy (center) and brother Bandhunta Jugg (right) (Savon Soremekun "Taiye4k"/Handout photo)

As Baltimore rap community mourns Bandhunta Jugg, brother Bandhunta Izzy recalls his growth, loyalty

December 28, 2023 at 5:13 p.m.

Bandhunta Izzy said his older brother, slain fellow Baltimore rapper Bandhunta Jugg, was a dedicated wordsmith and sibling. The 28-year-old father of two was killed Saturday in a shooting that...

The scene in Woodlawn after an early morning shooting that injured four and killed one. (Barbara Taylor/Staff photo)

Baltimore County Police identify 28-year-old killed in ‘targeted’ Woodlawn shooting that wounded 4 others

December 24, 2023 at 4:14 p.m.

Baltimore County Police said Sunday that homicide detectives are "pursuing leads" in a shooting early Saturday in the parking lot of a Woodlawn shopping center, where a 28-year-old died and...

Baltimore County police investigators are on the scene of a shooting on the 1800 block of Woodlawn Drive Saturday morning. Five people were shot, one of them fatally. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/staff photo)

One dead, four injured in Woodlawn shooting; Baltimore County Police believe it targeted

December 24, 2023 at 10:13 a.m.

Baltimore County Police are searching for at least one suspect after an early Saturday morning shooting that left one person dead and four others injured in Woodlawn, the department says.

An entrance to the U.S. Naval Academy campus in Annapolis. (Patrick Semansky AP)

Appeals court revives case against Naval Academy midshipman who was acquitted of rape charge last year

December 24, 2023 at 12:04 a.m.

A three-judge panel agreed that an Anne Arundel County Circuit judge “acted without authority” when he dismissed two charges against Garrett Lee Holsen, a Wisconsin native who was accused of...

Lockers at Dunbar High School.

Guns found Wednesday on Dunbar High School campus in Baltimore; 15-year-old student arrested

December 20, 2023 at 4:49 p.m.

Baltimore City school officials said the weapons were found "in connection with a student incident" at Dunbar High School, but were not used in any conflict on the campus. A...

Police tape sits on the trunk of a cruiser as Baltimore police investigate the scene of a shooting.

Father arrested in connection with death of 2-year-old daughter shot in Northwest Baltimore

December 20, 2023 at 6:02 p.m.

The father of Charlee Gamble, the 2-year-old girl who police said was fatally shot Sunday at her family's residence in Northwest Baltimore, was arrested Wednesday on murder and child abuse...

Smoke pours out of an apartment building on East Bound Court as Baltimore County firefighters clear out the Tuesday morning blaze in Windsor Mill. (Dan Belson/Sun staff)

1 hospitalized, 3 buildings impacted by Wednesday fire in Windsor Mill

December 20, 2023 at 5:36 p.m.

A three-alarm blaze ripped through multiple apartment buildings Wednesday in Windsor Mill, sending one person to a hospital and temporarily displacing residents of about 30 units.

Baltimore rapper Tate Kobang records at Above Ground Studio in Bel-Air Edison in November 2015.

Who is Tate Kobang, the Hot 100-placing Baltimore rapper featured on Nicki Minaj’s ‘Pink Friday 2’?

December 31, 2023 at 4:20 p.m.

Tate Kobang, who grew up in Northeast Baltimore and York, Pa., has again erupted into mainstream success with a feature with Lil Wayne on Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday 2."