Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Murder, Attempted Murder in Two Separate Shootings

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A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge sentenced a 24-year-old man to 30 years in prison after the defendant pleaded guilty to two separate shootings, including the murder of 52-year-old Eric Jennings last year.

On May 17, Cornelius Williams and his counsel, Jason Rodriguez, appeared before Judge Althea M. Handy to move forward with a plea agreement that was reached with the prosecution.

In regards to the homicide on May 22, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for life, suspending all but 30 years, and a concurrent 20 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime. Williams also pleaded guilty to a lesser included offense of first-degree assault in the attempted murder case for a sentence of 10 years and a concurrent 10 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

Both sentences will run concurrently and require Williams to serve five years of supervised probation upon his release and register as a gun offender.

The prosecutor informed Judge Handy that Williams killed Jennings on the 2300 block of West Franklin Street last May. Baltimore Police found the victim with one gunshot wound as well as a shell casing, cigarette butt and cigarillo.

“Our family is feeling the pain,” Jennings brother said in court. “…Hopefully, at this time, [Williams] will get the help that he needs with mental health.”

Less than a month later, the prosecutor continued, police were called for a shooting at an apartment complex on the 700 block of Poplar Grove Street. Security guards told police the suspect shot at them and then went into an apartment. Williams barricaded himself in the apartment before eventually surrendering when a family member arrived.

The victim told police he was walking home from the subway and stopped to talk to a friend, the prosecutor said. Williams confronted the victim and fired two to three shots at him, striking the victim in his left hand.

The prosecutor said on Friday that police later found “a grocery list” or “manifesto” inside Williams’ apartment that said, “Man with tattoos in elevator,” referring to the victim.

“I’ve been a judge since Dec. 3, 2002, and this never gets any easier,” Judge Handy said before imposing Williams’ sentence.

The judge noted that Williams may be eligible for the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program and told the defendant she hopes he “learns and grows” while incarcerated.