Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Shooting Another During Argument

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A 19-year-old Baltimore man will serve the next two decades in prison after he was found guilty of shooting another man during an argument last year.

On Oct. 11, Rito Cox III and his defense attorney, Matthew Connell, appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Alan C. Lazerow who imposed a sentence of 35 years, suspending all but 20 years, for the shooting on June 15, 2023. Cox was initially charged with attempted murder, but was acquitted four months ago following a jury trial.

However, Cox was found guilty of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, illegal possession of ammunition, having a handgun on his person and firing a gun in Baltimore City in connection to the shooting on the 2600 block of Greenmount Avenue.

Judge Lazerow sentenced Cox to 25 years, suspending all but 10 years, for first-degree assault and a consecutive 20 years, suspending all but 10 years, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime. He received suspended concurrent sentences for the remaining charges, including five years for possessing a firearm as a minor, three years for having a handgun on his person and one year each for illegal possession of ammunition and firing a gun in Baltimore City.

Cox must also serve five years of supervised probation upon his release.

According to court documents, the victim walked into the hospital after he was shot in the abdomen. The victim told Baltimore Police that he was having an argument with the defendant when the latter shot him.