‘You Can’t Kill Me, Only God Can,’ Says Praying Victim to Road Rage Suspect

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.

Troy Barnes pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted murder before Baltimore City Circuit Court before Judge Timothy J. Doory on March 4.

Barnes, 22, was initially charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, as well as related firearm and drug charges, in connection to the Feb. 28, 2024 shooting of a 47-year-old man.

According to charging documents, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to an incident location at approximately 4:33 p.m. to investigate a report of a shooting in the 3000 block of Arunah Avenue.

Upon arrival, they located the victim suffering from point-blank injuries to his arm and left wrist. Responders later found that the shooting resulted from a road rage incident and that the victim proceeded to chase Barnes in his vehicle as he fled. Medics transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment.

The victim testified that Barnes hit his car and approached while yelling, “I’m going to kill you unless you give me the money!”

“I sat there, I prayed and thought to myself, ‘You can’t kill me, only God can,’” the victim told the court. “He shot me, then ran back to his vehicle. “

The victim, who is left-handed, told the court that the gunshot wound to his wrist inhibits his ability to work and that he lacks feeling in his hand.

Defense attorney Christopher O’Meara requested that Judge Doory consider a suspension of all but 25 years, emphasizing that Barnes is still young and developing. Barnes, he said, has a family and is still in the process of finishing his GED.

Judge Doory ultimately handed Barnes a life sentence, suspending all but 30 years, and five years of supervised probation.

“You got no benefit out of this,” Judge Doory told Barnes. “He got no benefit out of it, all because of road rage.“