GPS Monitor Tracks Suspect Near Murder Scene

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Maurice Prioleau, 28, declined a plea offer before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland on May 23. The prosecution offered Prioleau an aggregate sentence of life, suspending all but 40 years, with no possibility for parole the first five years and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Prioleau is accused of fatally shooting DeAngelo West, 27, in the head on Dec. 26, 2024. He is charged with first-degree murder and assault, firearm use in a violent crime, having a handgun on his person, and possessing a firearm with a disqualifying felony conviction. West was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead three days later. 

Prioleau was on parole with a GPS ankle monitor at the time of the shooting, and law enforcement officials say there were able to track his movements to, at, and away from the scene using the device’s location data.

During the course of the investigation, police also recovered area surveillance footage that helped them identify Prioloeau as the primary suspect. Two spent .38-caliber cartridge casings were also recovered at the incident location.

A turnover of defense attorneys caused further delays in Prioleau’s case, as new counsel required extra time to review evidence for trial. Following a head conversation with his new attorney, Augustine Okeke, Prioleau reluctantly agreed to waive his rights to speedy trial. 

He is now slated to stand trial for four days, beginning Oct. 20.