Trial Date Set for Case Involving Shot Car Service Driver

By Rudy Malcom [former] , Carly Schiller [former] - August 9, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

A Baltimore resident who allegedly shot a car service driver over an open liquor bottle received a trial date during reception court on Aug. 9 at Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Veronica Jiggetts is charged with the attempted murder of a 57-year-old car service driver on Nov. 16, 2019. 

According to WBAL-TV, Jiggetts, 23, and another Baltimore resident, Aniyah Wright, called a car service to the 1900 block of Braddish Avenue on Nov. 16, 2019. When the driver arrived, an argument broke out between him and the two women because he did not want an open bottle of liquor in the car.

Jiggetts allegedly punched the driver in the face. Wright, 19, then handed her a gun. The driver exited the car and began running down the street. Jiggetts reportedly fired at him multiple times, eventually hitting the driver in the back.

She is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and nine firearms charges. 

On Monday, Jiggetts, whose case first appeared in reception court on July 12, was offered a plea of 25 years, suspending all but 10, the first five without the possibility of parole, for first-degree assault and firearm use in a violent crime. Under the offer, she would be required to stay away from the victim. 

Defense attorney Roland Brown rejected the offer on his client’s behalf. 

Jiggetts then waived her right to a speedy trial. Under Maryland law, a defendant has the right to be tried by their Hick’s date, or within 180 days of their first appearance in court.

Judge Melissa M. Phinn scheduled her trial for Feb. 27, 2022, nearly six months after Jiggetts’ Hick’s date of Aug. 15.

Another non-fatal shooting defendant received a trial date during Monday’s proceeding.

The case of Baltimore resident Antwan Terry is scheduled for trial on Jan. 4, 2022, with Judge Yvette M. Bryant presiding.

According to CBS Baltimore, officers were called around 2 p.m. on Oct. 2, 2020, to the 1600 block of N. Monroe Street. Upon arrival, they found the victim, a 42-year-old man, suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was then treated successfully at a local hospital.

Terry, 47, was arrested four days later. 

On Aug. 2, Terry was offered a plea of 25 years, the first five without parole, for attempted first-degree murder and firearm use in a violent crime. His defense attorney, Maureen Rowland, rejected the offer on Terry’s behalf. 

Terry is also charged with attempted second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and five other firearm-related charges. 

On Monday, the case returned to reception court to waive Terry’s right to a speedy trial. 

He waived his Hick’s date of Oct. 23, and Judge Phinn scheduled his trial for the beginning of next year.

Judge Phinn also presided over another attempted murder case from the fall of 2020.

Baltimore resident Tyrone Wallace is facing charges for an incident involving his brother on Sept. 2, 2020.

Wallace, 38, is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and reckless endangerment. He also faces six firearms charges. 

During Monday’s proceeding, the proseuction offered Wallace a plea of 40 years, suspending all but 25, with five years of probation for attempted first-degree murder, and five years without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a violent crime. Under the offer, the sentences would run concurrently. 

Defense attorney Robert Cole rejected the offer on his client’s behalf, as he did during postponement court on May 27. That rejection came one day after Judge Dana M. Middleton rejected Cole’s motion to suppress a photo lineup from evidence.

On Monday, the prosecutor said the victim did not appear in recent motions hearings, and that he is struggling to meet with him. He said the state will not go forward with the case without the victim.

Although the prosecutor requested the case to return to reception court on Sept. 20, Judge Phinn scheduled it to return on Aug. 18. She said this would give enough time for the victim to be served their rights and appear in the case.

Another defendant whose case was previously heard during postponement court earlier this spring appeared in reception court on Monday.

Judge Phinn presided over three cases in which Baltimore resident Edward Foster is the defendant.

In one case, Foster, 39, is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firearm use in a violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a handgun on his person, reckless endangerment, discharging firearms, and illegal possession of ammunition. 

The second set of charges against Foster include conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree assault, conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime, and having a handgun on his person. Both sets of charges stem from an incident on April 19, 2020.

On June 8, Foster’s defense attorney, Bradley MacFee, rejected a plea of life, suspending all but 35 years, the first five years without parole, for one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of firearm use in a violent crime.

During that same hearing, Foster was offered a plea of 10 years, the first five without parole, for armed robbery, firearm possession with a felony conviction, and firearm use in a violent crime. Defense attorney Sharon Dubey rejected the offer on her client’s behalf.

After some reluctance, Foster waived his Hick’s date, and Judge Phinn scheduled a trial for all three cases on Dec. 13 before Judge Charles H. Dorsey III.