Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant Rejects Plea, Takes April 2024 Trial Date

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Non-fatal shooting defendant Jeremiah Dairo will proceed with a jury trial in April 2024 after rejecting a plea offer from the prosecution.

On Dec. 11, the 24-year-old defendant appeared in reception court before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn. The prosecution offered Dairo a plea of 20 years, suspending all but five years, and five years of supervised probation for first-degree assault and a concurrent five years without parole for firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

Under the terms of the plea, the defendant would also be required to stay away from the victim and register as a gun offender.

Dairo and his defense attorney, Augustine Okeke, rejected the offer. Counsel then agreed on a two-day trial beginning April 2, 2024, before Judge Kendra Y. Ausby.

In addition to the aforementioned charges, Dairo was also facing three counts of second-degree assault, two additional counts of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firing and discharging a handgun and malicious destruction of property valued at $1,000.