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By
Jasmine Milbourne
- July 21, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Victims
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Troy K. Hill told the family of murder victim Eugene Fitzgerald, 28, to leave the courtroom after an outburst following the sentencing of defendant Tony Dukes, 35, on July 21.
Dukes was found guilty of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a prior criminal offense in March of this year. Dukes was sentenced to the maximum penalty for all three charges–life plus 35 consecutive years.
The prosecution said that the shooting Dukes committed was “horrific,” noting that he hunted Fitzgerald down and put numerous other bystanders in danger. The prosecution also noted that Dukes has prior convictions for violent crimes and has incurred multiple infractions since he was incarcerated.
The victim’s family chose not to give a victim impact statement, but told the court that Fitzpatrick left behind a young son and that his family was deeply hurt by Dukes’ actions.
On Dukes’ behalf, defense attorney Jerry Prince asked that the life sentence run concurrently to the additional 35 years, and that Dukes be allowed to learn “transferable skills” through resources such as job training or educational attainment to better prepare him for the possibility of parole.
He described Dukes’s childhood as difficult, stating how he’s been in jail as a minor, has never received a formal education and has struggled with several mental disabilities limiting his a formal education. Dukes also addressed Judge Hill, saying he never received his promised psychiatric evaluation.
Despite defense requests, Judge Hill sentenced the defendant to the maximum sentence for all three crimes.
Following the sentencing, Dukes responded with an outburst of expletives, which caused multiple members of the victim’s family to stand up and raise their voices in response. One allegedly threatened to kill Dukes’ mother. Several members of the victim’s family were escorted out of the courtroom, while others were reprimanded to sit down and remain silent.