Baltimore Man Sentenced to Life for Fatal Shooting

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A 33-year-old man convicted of homicide was sentenced to life plus 35 years on Sept. 15 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Anthony F. Vittoria.

Anderson Lee Covel, Jr., was found guilty of first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, and firearm possession with a felony conviction in February 2020 in connection to the death of 54-year-old Donnie Walton.

The first five years of Covel’s sentence will be served without the possibility of parole.

During Wednesday’s sentencing, the prosecutor informed the court that on May 30, 2019, Walton was walking his dog, “like he did every morning,” while Covel waited for him at the victim’s home. When Walton returned home, Covel shot him multiple times.

The incident occurred on the 400 block of E. 21st Street around 6:15 a.m., according to the Baltimore Sun. Video surveillance showed Covel walk across the street to confront Walton and as the two argued, Covel shot Walton and ran away.

Walton was later pronounced dead at Shock Trauma.

On Wednesday, the prosecutor requested a life sentence plus 35 years in regards to Covel’s crimes: Life for first-degree murder, a concurrent 20 years for firearm use in a violent crime, and a consecutive 15 years for firearm possession with a felony conviction.

The prosecutor encouraged the judge to take note of Covel’s past criminal record, including an attempted second-degree murder conviction in 2014 in addition to other firearm-related charges. The incident, which occurred on Halloween in 2013, was only a minute walk from the location of the 2019 murder, he said.

Walton’s niece also provided the prosecution with a victim impact statement, which was read to the court.

“Uncle Donnie had a special way of showing affection and to be who you want to be,” the niece wrote.

Defense attorney John Cox said that while he wasn’t going to “sugarcoat” his client’s prior convictions, Covel has also been a victim of violence during his incarceration, specifically in March when he was stabbed three times by an inmate and hospitalized.

Cox also said a life sentence would “dash hopes of parole.”

“If they have no hope of seeing the light of day, there’s no reason for them to continue on a course of redemption,” he said, adding that the judge should consider placing a specific measurement of time on the sentence.

Judge Vittoria then made his ruling and informed Covel that he will not be entitled to parole until 50% of his sentence has been served.

Cox told Covel that he has within 30 days to file an appeal or request a three-judge panel to review the sentence, during which the sentence can be decreased, increased, or remain the same.