A Baltimore man was sentenced to 35 years in prison on April 20 for his involvement in a downtown shooting last January that prosecutors called “the latest in a decade-long cycle of violence.”
The defendant, 22-year-old Antonio Mackey, will serve the first 10 years of his term without parole following the ruling by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams.
The sentencing follows the conclusion of Mackey’s jury trial in March, during which he was acquitted of attempted murder charges but convicted of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and five gun violations.
The charges stem from a broad daylight attack that occurred Jan. 29, 2025, on the 200 block of Clay Street. Investigators recovered a single spent .40-caliber casing at the scene, but the most damning evidence came from surveillance footage that showed a person said to be Mackey shooting a man in his lower right hip before fleeing toward Eutaw and Lexington Streets. Detectives were able to identify Mackey as the shooter through the footage, which provided a clear view of Mackey’s face and a “unique necklace” he wore during the crime.
The state pushed for the maximum penalty, noting Mackey committed the offense while on probation for another crime and has demonstrated a “constant record” of violent behavior since he was 11 years old.
Defense attorney John Deros requested leniency, pointing to Mackey’s young age and urging the court not to “give up” on his potential for change.
Ultimately, the court handed down a 35-year sentence.
