Attempted Homicide Defendant Accepts Plea Deal in Stray Bullet Case

By Ashleigh Joplin [former] - August 23, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

An 18-year-old attempted homicide defendant accepted a plea deal on Aug. 18 in front of the woman who was struck in the head by his stray bullet in January. 

Before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton, Jalil Alexander Terrel Bagley and his defense attorney Brian Levy pleaded guilty to the two counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, the use of a handgun to commit a violent crime and having a handgun on his person in connection with an incident on Jan. 15.

“I have never seen him a day in my life, but he almost took my life away,” said the victim during her impact statement. “I had to learn how to speak, walk, everything I was doing at first.”

In January, the 72-year-old victim was sitting in her home when the defendant shot at two other victims on the 5000 block of Ivanhoe Avenue. A stray bullet entered the woman’s second-story window and struck her in the head. If not for her grandson being home, she said that she would not have lived.

“I’m a person in jail in my house,” she said, expressing that she is now afraid to leave her home.

Bagley received concurrent sentences of 40 years in prison, suspending all but 15 years with five years of supervised probation for each count of first-degree attempted murder. He also received a concurrent sentence of 15 years in prison each for first-degree assault and use of a firearm during a felony violent crime. He will not be ineligible for parole for the first five years of his sentence. Bagley also received a concurrent sentence of three years in prison for having a handgun on his person. Upon his release, Bagley is ordered to stay away from all victims.

When asked if he wanted to address the victim in the courtroom, Bagley declined, prompting the judge to address the defendant. “It may not seem like it today but she is here for you,” Judge Middleton said to Bagley. “Not everyone is as blessed to have someone like [the victim] to walk in.”

The victim ended her statement by saying that she hopes the defendant becomes rehabilitated and gets the help that he needs.