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By
Sage Cho
- July 11, 2025
Attempted Murder
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Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Shooting
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Victims
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Norman Waker, 66, rejected a plea offer before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland on July 11, opting instead to face a four-day trial by jury to begin Oct. 14. Waker waived his right to speedy trial, allowing itl to fall one week past his deadline.
Waker, himself infirmed, stands accused of shooting and killing Clyde Barnes, 79, and injuring another unnamed senior citizen at the Pleasant View Gardens senior living facility in February. For his alleged role in the shooting, Waker faces charges of first-degree murder and assault, attempted first- and second-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, and having a handgun on his person.
At approximately 11:07 a.m. on Feb. 20, Central District patrol officers responded to a report of a shooting on the 100 block of N. Central Avenue, one of the homes located in the Pleasant View Gardens neighborhood. Upon arrival, they located Barnes and the unnamed victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Barnes was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the second victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Tactical law enforcement units responded and located Waker within the facility. Waker was arrested on scene and transported to the Central Booking & Intake Facility, where he was charged with first-degree murder.
The prosecution offered Waker a deal of life, suspending all but 60 years, followed by five years of supervised probation. They also offered 20-year and 30-year concurrent sentences for the charges of felony firearm use and attempted first-degree murder, respectively. Defense attorney Matthew Connell rejected the offer on the aging defendant’s behalf.
Judge Jeffrey M. Geller is set to preside over Waker’s trial. Judge Copeland ensured the court provides an ADA-compliant courtroom for Waker, who had one leg amputated and requires a wheelchair for mobility