Postponement Court Reschedules Multiple Homicide, Non-Fatal Shooting Cases

By Andrew Michaels - June 1, 2021
Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Two homicide cases and one non-fatal shooting were sent from postponement to reception court on Tuesday before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

On June 1, the first homicide case presented to the court included four co-defendants for the alleged murder of a 21-year-old Aberdeen man in November 2019.

Anthony Clark, 21, a resident of Baltimore, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, having a handgun on their person, three counts of having a handgun in a vehicle, an assault weapon violation, possession of a firearm as a minor, conspiracy to first-degree murder, and conspiracy to use a firearm during a violent crime.

Shamar Jerry, 21, another resident of Baltimore, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, three counts of having a handgun in a vehicle, an assault weapon violation, possession of a firearm as a minor, and conspiracy to first-degree murder.

James Dunbar, 20, a resident of Owings Mills, Md., is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, three counts of having a handgun in a vehicle, an assault weapon violation, illegal possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm as a minor, conspiracy to first-degree murder, and conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime.

William Thornton, 28, who is also a resident of Baltimore, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, three counts of having a handgun in a vehicle, an assault weapon violation, illegal possession of a firearm, conspiracy to first-degree murder, and conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime. 

Clark also faces narcotics and handgun charges in a separate case to which he was offered a plea that would serve concurrent time with the homicide case.

Each defendant’s counsel shared a plea offer of life, suspending all but 75 years, for first-degree murder, handgun use during a violent crime, and conspiracy to first-degree murder. All of the defendants’ rejected the plea offers.  

Judge Phinn said she anticipates the co-defendants would be tried in early 2022. All four defendants are expected to go before reception court on July 16.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Police found the body of Donnell Brockington, 21, with multiple gunshot wounds around 8:40 p.m. on the 2600 block of McElderry Street in November 2019. Brockington was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The homicide case of Baltimore resident John Brown, Jr., 22, was also heard on Tuesday for charges of first-degree murder, firearm use during a violent crime, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a handgun on his person, firearm possession with a felony conviction, and three counts of illegal possession of a firearm.

The prosecution shared a plea offer of life, suspending all but 60 years, and five years supervised probation for one count of first-degree murder.

The offer was rejected. Brown’s case is scheduled to go to trial on Aug. 12.

CBS Baltimore reported that Brown was arrested for allegedly shooting Yohannes Carr, 31, around 10:30 p.m. on the 2400 block of Etting Street in August 2020. Carr was pronounced dead at the scene.

A non-fatal shooting case was also discussed during postponement court.

Brian Hockaday, 32, a resident of Baltimore, is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts first-degree assault, two counts of firearm use in a violent crime, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, one count of illegal possession of a firearm, one count of having a handgun on his person, and one count of discharging a gun.

Hockaday’s defense counsel said they have “never been more certain that this will be a jury trial,” however, Judge Phinn sent the case back to reception court. The case is scheduled for a June 10 hearing.