Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer sentenced 25-year-old homicide defendant Gerson Diaz-Arita to life on Feb. 18.
Diaz-Arita is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment and having a loaded handgun in a vehicle in connection to an Oct. 26, 2022 incident that ended in the murder of 39-year-old David Rodriguez Ramirez.
“Diaz-Arita made the decision to kill him [Ramirez], to shoot him in the back,” the prosecution said, emphasizing that the victim posed no threat.
The state recommended a life sentence, suspending all but 45 years, citing the “level of violence” involved in the case.
The prosecution also noted Diaz-Arita’s history of violent behavior, including multiple assault charges and possession of a weapon while incarcerated.
Defense attorney Stephen Beatty argued for a reduced sentence, stating that Diaz-Arita was celebrating his 23rd birthday and had interacted with the victim prior to the incident.
Diaz-Arita told the court that Ramirez’s wife had invited him for drinks, and when he stepped outside, the victim confronted him with jealous anger.
Diaz-Arita expressed remorse and said he was drinking beer at the wrong place and with the wrong company.
Judge Schiffer detailed the case, stating that Diaz-Arita himself was the wrong company and that there was no evidence to prove Ramirez had a weapon.
Judge Schiffer sentenced Diaz-Arita to life, suspending all but 45 years, the first five without the possibility of parole. He was also sentenced to 10 years of probation.
