16-Year-Old Defendant Accepts Plea Deal for Kentucky Avenue Murder

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A homicide defendant accepted a plea agreement before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner for a 2022 murder on July 26,

Costello Simms, 16, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count each of firearm use in a felony violent crime, carrying or wearing a handgun on his person, having a handgun in his vehicle and possessing a firearm as a minor in relation to the murder of 21-year-old Ronald Boone on the 3300 block of Kentucky Avenue.

The plea offer was life, suspending all but 35 years, with five years of probation for the charge of first-degree murder and 10 years concurrently, the first five years without the possibility of parole, for the charge of firearm use in a felony violent crime.

Additionally, Simms will have to register as a gun offender, undergo drug and alcohol treatment screenings and comply with clinical screenings upon release. The remaining charges were dropped.

Boone’s grandmother spoke about the victim. She described him as a well-mannered, genuine gentleman and said repeatedly “I just want to know why?” regarding the reason for her grandson’s death.

A social worker who has worked with Simms for more than two years described him as someone who cares about his family and that he was currently doing his best to make the best out of a bad situation.

Natalie Finegar, Simms’ defense attorney, talked about Simms’ active engagement in his education and how, “It’s very clear some of his actions that day were very impulsive and very influenced by his peers.”

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, recovered video footage showed the victim walking on Kentucky Avenue on Feb. 5, 2022, when a white vehicle passed the victim and the driver fired at least one shot out the window. After, a passenger in a silver vehicle shot the victim several more times. The white vehicle was recovered, and Simms’ likely DNA was recovered from the driver’s side. Additionally, a witness picked Simms out from a photo array. The silver vehicle passenger was not identified or charged.