Homicide Defendant Set for Trial in June 2022

By Andrew Michaels - November 1, 2021
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A Randallstown, MD man charged with the murder of Marcus Bentely will go to trial in June 2022 after rejecting pleas in four different cases on Nov. 1 in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Daquan Murphy, 20, is charged in four cases involving murder, attempted murder, armed carjacking, robbery, and several handgun charges between Feb. 1 and 10. According to the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, Murphy was indicted in April for allegedly shooting Bentely in the chest on Feb. 10 on the 3400 block of E. Lombard Street.

On Monday, the prosecution and a defense attorney discussed the murder case against Murphy for which he has been charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a loaded handgun on his person, and having a handgun on his person.

The state’s attorney’s office previously reported that officers were called to E. Lombard Street in February and found Bentely on his back with a gunshot wound to his chest. Bentely was taken to Bay View Hospital but died from his injuries.

During the investigation, police learned that the alleged shooter, later identified as Murphy, parked a white Toyota in front of Bentely, got out of the car, and then approached and shot the victim. Murphy then ran back to the car and drove away.

The Toyota was stolen earlier that day, according to the police report. Murphy was identified in the vehicle during a commercial robbery in Baltimore County and arrested.

During Monday’s proceedings before Judge Melissa M. Phinn, the prosecution offered Murphy life, suspending all but 60 years, and five years probation for first-degree murder; and 20 years, the first five years concurrent, for firearm use in a violent crime.

Murphy was also offered 20 years for armed carjacking in another case; life, suspending all but 30 years with five years probation for attempted first-degree murder and five years without parole for firearm use in a violent crime in a third case; and life, suspending all but 30 years with five years probation for attempted first-degree murder and five years without parole for firearm use in a violent crime in a fourth case.

All sentences would be served concurrently; however, the offers were rejected and Judge Phinn set Murphy’s trial for June 13, 2022.