Family Member Describes ‘Void’ After Murder

By Laura Van Pate - November 7, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

At a sentencing hearing Nov. 7, a family member spoke about the emptiness she experienced after losing her cousin to violence.

Ky’Mon Young, 18, was found guilty in May of second-degree murder for killing 23-year-old Maya Morton and injuring her two sons, during a January 2023 shooting that took place near the 1700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, when Young started shooting at her while she was in her car.

“The loss of Maya is a void in our hearts,” Morton’s cousin said during the sentencing. “I hope you [the defendant] find the Lord ,and it’s awful her sons will suffer without their mom.”

During the sentencing, Young’s defense attorney, Judit Otvos, argued for a lenience due to Young’s mental health problems, including diagnosed depression. 

The prosecution, however, said even if he did have mental health problems, Young is still old enough to know right from wrong. 

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Paul E. Alpert sentenced Young to 40 years in prison, suspending all but 20, for second-degree murder and 20 years in prison, suspending all but 10 years, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime. The weapons sentence is slated to run consecutively to the murder sentence. In addition, Young was also sentenced to five years in prison for reckless endangerment, which is concurrent to the other sentences. 

“I let down a lot of people,” Young said. “I’d also like to apologize to Maya, and I hope that one day I can leave prison and return to my loved ones.”