Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Catherine Chen sentenced a homicide defendant to life imprisonment with all but 40 years suspended on the first-degree murder conviction.
Emmanuel King, 39, pleaded guilty May 26 to first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime and conspiracy to commit armed robbery in connection with a 2025 double homicide case in Baltimore City Circuit Court. King also received a concurrent 20-year sentences for firearm use and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, followed by five years of supervised probation.
King was initially charged with two counts each of first-degree murder, along with multiple firearm, armed robbery and conspiracy charges in connection to the July 2, 2025 fatal shooting of Franklin Hughes, 32, on the 3000 block of Westfield Avenue. Hughes died after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest.
According to charging documents, police responded to the scene and later linked a white Nissan Altima registered to King to the investigation. Investigators also connected cellphone location data to the case, placing King near the scene. King was arrested on July 11, 2025.
The case was postponed on April 20 after defense attorney Mary Patton argued that cellphone evidence had been disclosed late. The prosecution did not oppose postponement, and the matter was transferred after the court found the delayed disclosure constituted an evidence violation.
Court records show motion hearings proceeded on May 14 before the case concluded during a plea hearing on May 26.
A jury trial had been scheduled for June 9 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby, but the proceeding was canceled after the case closed.
