As her son watched, a Baltimore woman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and firearm use in a felony crime of violence before Judge Kimberly C. McBride on Oct. 14.
On March 18, Shy’Keema Turner, 31, was found on the 700 block of E. Preston Street with a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead later that day, and an autopsy revealed she was shot in the left part of her back. The bullet that exited through the middle of her chest. Her manner of death was ruled a homicide.
The day of the incident, Unique Thorn, 26, was interviewed by police as a suspect in the case.
Thorn allegedly admitted to shooting Turner but revealed the two had been in a physical altercation around 6 a.m. Around 4 p.m., Turner allegedly slashed Thorn in the back. Thorn claims she then entered her home and retrieved her firearm from a bookbag on the couch.
Thorn alleged she told Turner she would lower her firearm if Turner put down her knife. Turner reportedly attempted to slash Thorn, who shot her.
Detectives obtained surveillance footage from near the 700 block of E. Preston Street that showed Thorn running down the sidewalk with a firearm in her hand, apparently chasing Turner.
Thorn initially claimed she fired the gun in self-defense. In the video footage, a gunshot was heard after Thorn reached the end of the block. Police say that’s inconsistent with the evidence.
Thorn’s young son called out, “mama,” to his mother while she sat with her attorney.
Courtroom security ultimately asked Thorn’s family to remove her child from the courtroom.
Thorn is expected to serve concurrent sentences in exchange for her guilty plea. Her primary charge of first-degree murder was downgraded to second-degree murder as part of the agreement.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2026 with Judge McBride presiding.
