
Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.
By
Danielle Dixon
- March 27, 2025
Attempted Murder
|
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Non-Fatal Shooting
|
Attempted murder defendant Quantae Johnson, 38, rejected a plea offer before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland on March 27.
Johnson is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, home invasion, having a handgun on his person, and reckless endangerment in connection to an incident that occurred on Sept. 20, 2024 at the victim’s residence in the 4100 block of Gladden Avenue.
According to charging documents, Johnson arrived at the house and attempted to force his way in after the victim opened the door. She initially believed he was her caretaker, who occasionally visits to help her and her husband.
She told officers she tried to shut the door, but Johnson forced himself into the house and fired a black gun into the ceiling and another in the direction of the victim’s head.
The victim said she feared for her life and ran downstairs to her basement before locking the door to protect herself. Johnson then allegedly fired another bullet into the door.
The victim’s husband, who was downstairs during the incident, said he heard what he believed was a semi-automatic firearm. He identified the man to be a dark-skinned Black male with a slim build, in a grey T-shirt and green shorts, carrying a shopping bag while walking toward the direction of the Erdman Shopping Center.
The prosecution offered Johnson a plea deal of 30 years, suspending all but 10 years, for the charge of attempted second-degree murder, the first five without possibility of parole. Johnson was also offered five concurrent years for having a handgun on his person and a three-year no contact order with the victim and her husband.
Johnson and defense attorney Koryn High rejected the plea deal.
High informed Judge Copeland that Johnson was not informed in a timely manner about the plea deal, so Judge Copeland granted him two weeks to reconsider his decision and ordered him to return June 5 for a jury trial before Judge Kendra Y. Ausby.