‘Atypical’ Murder Defendant Gets 40 Years for Killing of MTA Bus Driver

By Baltimore Witness Staff - May 17, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Every available seat was full of loved ones for both parties in Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert K. Taylor, Jr.’s courtroom May 15 for the sentencing of a 55-year-old man who brutally killed an MTA bus driver. 

Leon D. Hill was charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and in a vehicle for the October 2022 murder of Elaine Jackson, an MTA bus driver. Hill pleaded guilty in September 2023 to first-degree murder, accepting the prosecution’s offer of life, suspending all but 50 years.

The prosecutor briefly recapitulated the case: Hill followed 40-year-old Jackson out to her car in the MTA’s parking lot on the 1500 block of Washington Boulevard, where they got into an argument. Witnesses saw Hill shoot Jackson multiple times before stomping on her head repeatedly. Hill then called his friend who worked at the MTA and said Jackson had disrespected him before fleeing to Atlanta, which extradited him for prosecution in this case. 

“This was a daylight gunning down,” said the prosecutor. He explained that because all social, moral and legal guardrails failed to prevent Hill from committing such an egregious crime, he would continue to be a danger to the public in the future. As such, the prosecutor requested a sentence of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years of supervised probation in the event of Hill’s release. 

Several of Jackson’s family members gave victim impact statements. Her father and one of her daughters emphasized she was not a disrespectful person. 

Jackson’s father told the court, “I can’t even say how much I miss my daughter now.” 

Her daughter, who is graduating college soon, mourned that “[Hill] took my support system away from me.”

Defense attorney Marc L. Zayon likened his client’s involvement in this incident to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as Hill had no prior criminal record and was well regarded by his neighbors, coworkers and community. After citing Hill’s work history as a former longshoreman, small business owner and school bus driver, Zayon said, “He was a good, good friend to a lot of people.”

According to the defense, despite suffering from child abuse and the resulting PTSD, Hill had no prior known behavioral issues and raised his stepdaughter as his own. 

“Other than that day, he’s been a stellar member of the community,” Zayon told the court. While he acknowledged the extreme facts of the case, he encouraged the judge to look at it as an “isolated incident.” He suggested a sentence of life, suspending all but 20 years, for Hill, considering his age and poor health.

Hill’s sister spoke to his generosity. Hill had previously worked two jobs as a civilian in the U.S. Army in Germany to support her while she was in college. He also paid for her wedding. When she visited her brother, she said his neighbors would tell her he was a good man. 

“I am not trying to excuse his actions,” she said, but she implored Judge Taylor to look at him holistically. 

Hill’s older brother apologized to the Jackson family on behalf of his own family. He said he could understand their pain as his mother had died as well. 

Hill himself also apologized to the Jackson family and said he was “riddled with guilt.” He asked for mercy from the court, but said, “I know I have to be held accountable.”

Judge Taylor remarked that this crime “was so senseless and so useless.” 

“I’m in a position where nothing I can say or do can ease the pain of the Jackson family,” he said. But he also recognized Hill was “an atypical murder defendant in a lot of ways.”

Before handing down his sentence, the judge stated, “Anything I do now will just further the turmoil of these two families.” 

Taking a middle ground between the defense and the prosecution’s recommendations, Judge Taylor sentenced Hill to life, suspending all but 40 years. In the event of Hill’s release, he will serve three years of supervised probation with required mental health treatment.