62-Year-Old Attempted Murder Defendant Rejects Plea

By Brooke Uzzell [former] - February 18, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A 62-year-old Baltimore man charged with attempted murder rejected a plea offer on Feb. 16 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

Herschel Cooper is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, using a firearm during a violent crime, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a handgun on his person, reckless endangerment, illegal possession of ammo and discharging a firearm in connection to an incident on Aug. 17, 2021. 

During reception court on Wednesday, Judge Phinn listened as the prosecutor presented a plea of 40 years suspending all but 20 years, the first five years without parole, and five years of probation for attempted second-degree murder and use a firearm during a violent crime.  

Under the plea, the defendant must register as a gun offender and was also offered a Noelle pros, which dismissed him from being prosecuted for illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a handgun on his person, and illegal possession of ammunition in connection to an incident that occured on Aug. 31, 2021.

Cooper and his defense attorney George Harris rejected the plea deal. 

On Aug. 17, 2021, at approximately 10:20 p.m. Baltimore City Police Department officers were called to the 500 block of North Calhoun Street for a shot-spotter alert. They found a 51-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his back.

During their investigation, police learned from witnesses that there was a dispute between the victim and Cooper, who was later identified as a suspect.

Cooper’s trial is scheduled for July 26.