Jury Acquits Defendant of Attempted Murder But Renders Guilty Verdict on Assault

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A defendant was acquitted of attempted first- and second-degree murder, but found guilty of first-degree assault and other charges on June 24.

Rito Cox III, 19, was convicted of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, illegal possession of ammunition, having a handgun on his person and firing a gun in Baltimore City in connection to an incident on June 15, 2023, on the 2600 block of Greenmount Avenue.

Cox, who was represented by defense attorney Matthew Connell, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm as a minor on June 20, before his trial officially began. He received a sentence of three years, suspending all but time served, as well as five years on probation.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Alan C. Lazerow presided over the attempted murder trial that began on June 19.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on June 15, 2023, Baltimore Police Department officers responded to Union Memorial Hospital for a walk-in shooting victim. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen.