Lanvale Street Shooting Trial Ends in Plea Deal

By Daniel Rogers - July 7, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Victims |

John Watkins, Jr., 32, entered an Alford plea on June 26 for a single violation of discharging a firearm in Baltimore City on Feb. 21, near the 800 block of W. Lanvale Street.

In an Alford plea the defendant maintains their innocence while acknowledging that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to likely secure a conviction.

For his involvement in the incident, Watkins faces a sentence of one year, suspending all but time served, followed by two years of unsupervised probation. He will also be required to have no contact with the victims, stay away from the incident location, and register as a gun offender. In exchange, the prosecution agreed to dismiss a criminal and a traffic-related case against Watkins.

On the afternoon of Feb. 21, a married couple reported being threatened with a gun after asking a group of young adults to move away, according to court documents. The victims said they had seen the group repeatedly walking through an alleyway that is known as a location forcriminal activity and illicit drug sales.

“Threats speak louder than words … especially with a weapon,” said the prosecution during their opening statement.

Watkins allegedly sped up in his car to intimidate the couple, nearly hitting one of them. After engaging in a verbal dispute with one of the victims, he reportedly lifted his shirt and flashed a gun tucked into his waistband. According to witnesses, he said, “We’ll take care of this when the police leave.”

The victims claimed Watkin’s words and actions made them extremely fearful for their lives and safety.

Defense attorney John E. Cox‘scross-examination of the prosecution’s first witness, one of the victims, highlighted several inconsistencies between her testimony and the 911 call she made following the incident, as well as discrepancies in the timeline and her recollection of events that day. 

No further hearings are scheduled in this case at the time.