Under Plea, Homicide Defendant Must Tell Victim’s Family Why the Killing Happened

By Andrew Michaels - January 24, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Five years after the murder of 20-year-old Tavon Wilson, his killer, Melvin Wright, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and using a firearm in a crime of violence on Jan. 23 in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Wright, 27, was scheduled for a jury trial on Tuesday before agreeing to the prosecution’s plea offer before Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr. The defendant agreed to a suspended 40-year sentence for second-degree murder and a consecutive 20 years, suspending all but 15 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime as well as five years of supervised probation.

The terms of Wright’s plea were somewhat unusual as he is also required to tell Wilson’s family why the killing occurred once his sentence and probation has concluded.

Inside the courtroom, Wilson’s mother remained calm during her victim impact statement when she told Wright that although this process has been painful, she did not characterize him as a monster.

“My son is gone, but you’re still alive,” she said. “I pray you learn from this. You are not a monster. You make bad decisions like everybody else.”

This particular decision stemmed from an incident on Jan. 9, 2019. Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers were called to the 3600 block of Marmon Avenue for reported gunfire and found Wilson suffering from a gunshot wound, court documents state.

Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police identified Wright as a suspect after an unrelated arrest on Jan. 25, 2023, when they discussed his history of handgun arrests. Wright’s girlfriend informed police that the defendant and victim knew one another, “but were not close,” and the two men were seen together on social media.

Prior to his sentencing on Tuesday, Wright apologized to Wilson’s parents. The defendant explained that he believed he was going to be robbed and shot Wilson in response.

“I didn’t mean to cause you all any type of pain,” he said.

Judge Taylor acknowledged that Wright acted without thinking about how his actions would not only impact the victim’s family and friends, but also the defendant’s family and friends.

“I try to remember we’re all more than the worst thing we’ve done,” Judge Taylor said.

Wright was initially charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime and having a loaded handgun on his person.