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By
Cooper Griffiths [former]
- March 8, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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On March 7, a defendant rejected a plea offered by the prosecutor for attempted murder charges before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.
Defendant Antoine Royster and his defense counsel Linda Zeit rejected a plea of 20 years, suspending all but time served and four years of supervised probation for first-degree assault. The deal also offered a consecutive 20 years suspending all but 12, with the first five without the possibility of parole and four years of supervised probation for the use of a firearm in a felony violent crime in connection to an incident that occurred on June 3, 2022.
According to court documents, on the day of the shooting, the victim got into her vehicle and was shot at while on the 100 block of Diener Place. The victim was unharmed. The next day, the same victim identified Royster as a suspect. After a brief foot pursuit, Royster was arrested.
Judge Phinn set the 59-year-old defendant’s trial date for Aug. 10 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer.
According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Royster is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance offense, illegal possession of ammunition, discharging firearms, having a loaded handgun on his person and malicious destruction of property valuing more than $1000.