Attempted Murder Defendant Accepts New Plea Offer

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Just days before his June 26 trial was set to begin, an attempted murder defendant accepted a plea offer that dismissed the most serious charges against him.

On June 24, Fernnell Harrison, 41, and his defense attorney, Robert Cohen, accepted a plea for a sentence of 30 years, suspending all but 10 years, for attempted second-degree murder and five years, served concurrently, for firearm use in a felony violent crime. Additionally, Harrison will serve five years of supervised probation upon his release.

Following an incident on Sept. 2, 2023, Harrison was charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and firing and discharging a gun.

The offer, accepted in front of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland, is the second plea that Harrision has been offered. Previously, Harrison rejected a plea for life in prison, suspending all but 25 years, followed by five years of supervised probation for attempted first-degree murder and a concurrent five years in prison without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a felony violent crime.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, a fight broke out between a group of individuals in the parking lot of a Citgo Gas Station on the 1200 block of East North Avenue. Initially uninvolved, Harrison and the victim then joined the altercation, and Harrison brandished a firearm at the victim. Harrison shot the victim twice before the victim fell. Harrison allegedly continued to shoot at the downed victim before fleeing on foot.