Shooter Gets Life Sentence for Shattering Victim’s Eye

By Claire Schreiber - April 18, 2025
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects |

Terrell Parker, 28, was sentenced to life plus 30 years, the first 10 without parole, before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Troy K. Hill on April 18 for a 2023 attempted murder case that left a man traumatized with permanent eye damage.

Parker was initially charged with two counts of illegal possession of a regulated firearm and one count each of attempted first- and second-degree murder and assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, and reckless endangerment, and related firearm violations. On July 22, 2024, a jury found Parker guilty of all charges before Judge Hill.

The counts stem from an incident that occurred on April 13, 2023. Officers responded to the 1700 block of Normal Avenue following a report of a shooting and located the victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his face. He was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital for emergency treatment. The bullet entered under his right eye leaving an exit wound on his left cheek, according to charging documents..

Officers recovered a spent cartridge casing, one projectile, and a trail of blood leading from the victim’s vehicle into the front living room of the crime scene.

Two witnesses told investigators that the suspect – known as “Rell” on the streets – confronted the victim, who had just parked his car, and expressed hostility about how the victim “pulled up” his vehicle on the block. “Rell” was later identified as Parker.

One witness was advising the victim who returned to his vehicle with another witness after Parker threatened to “light him up.” As the victim and the witness attempted to leave the scene, the witness observed Parker approach the vehicle, initiate a physical altercation, and fire a shot from a black handgun. The victim reportedly collapsed against his vehicle, bleeding from his face.

One of the witnesses later provided investigators with the suspect’s social media account, and detectives used a facial recognition software called Watch Center to identify Parker. Both witnesses successfully identified Parker through a photo array. 

During Parker’s disposition hearing, the prosecution urged Judge Hill to impose the maximum penalty of life plus 35 years, citing the “egregious nature of shooting a man over an exhaust pipe,” and the permanent damage the incident wrought upon the victim’s life.

The victim suffers from vision problems and underwent multiple surgeries – one to replace his natural lens of his right eye with an artificial one, and several other procedures to close a hole in his face. His face and eyes are badly scarred, and he has difficulty chewing on the right side of his mouth. Mentally, he now struggles with severe depression and alcohol abuse.

Defense attorney Donald C. Wright argued for leniency, pointing to Parker’s young age and status as a high school graduate and father of four. Wright said Parker struggled with gun violence in his own life, having recently lost his brother to a shooting, and asked Judge Hill to consider a shorter sentence of life plus 25 or 30 years, suspending all but 15. 

“The facts are disturbing – I’m not going to stand here and argue,” said Wright. “Mr. Parker is likely to be released at some point. Fifteen years is an adequate sentencing. There has to be some punishment here, no doubt about it.”

Wright then went on to note rehabilitation is often overlooked in criminal hearings and expressed hope that Parker could one day attend a gun violence program.

Judge Hill acknowledged both arguments but ultimately ruled in favor of a harsher sentence, stating the extent of the victim’s injuries and mental health trauma, as well as Parker’s previous parole violation.