Attempted Murder Defendant Sentenced to 35 Years as A 'Public Safety Threat'

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams sentenced 19-year-old Ethan King to life in prison on March, suspending all but 35 years, after a jury found him guilty of attempting to murder a retired fireman on Feb. 6, 2024.

King also received the same sentence for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, as well as 10 years for other firearm-related offenses. King will serve all sentences concurrently.

The prosecution read a letter from the victim, who was not present at the disposition hearing but wished to thank court employees and responding officers.

“I’m not sure what led Mr. King down this path of destruction,” wrote the victim. He thanked the court for their professionalism, and expressed sympathy towards the defendant’s family.

The sentencing hearing was postponed previously after King yelled in an outburst, “F*ck this sh*t, man.”

King remained quiet throughout most of the proceeding but briefly addressed Judge Williams to request a sentence that would help him “become a better person.”

“He has shown no expression of remorse, besides maybe feeling a little sorry for himself,” said the prosecution. “He is a public safety threat.”

Defense attorney Jason Rodriguez argued that King expressed remorse during private conversations, but acknowledged it may not have appeared that way.

Rodriguez told Judge Williams that King demonstrated growth throughout the course of the trial and requested a 20 year sentence, which he believed sufficient to rehabilitate his client. The maximum sentence for attempted murder in Maryland is life in prison.

Rodriguez also emphasized that King was 18-years- old at the time of the crime, meaning his brain was not fully developed in the eyes of the law.

Judge Williams said the “random spraying of bullets” that King fired during the crime posed a danger and could have injured an innocent bystander. He called King a danger to the community, emphasizing that King had initially targeted another man for whom he had mistaken the retired fireman.

Attempted Murder Defendant Sentenced to 35 Years as A ‘Public Safety Threat’