According to Baltimore Witness data, the number of non‑fatal shooting cases that were resolved by plea bargains dropped significantly between 2024 and 2025, meaning far fewer defendants accepted negotiated resolutions and more cases proceeded in open court.
Last year, Baltimore Witness tracked 14 non‑fatal shooting cases resolved by pleas in Baltimore City Circuit Court, compared to 35 in 2024, more than double the 2025 total.
A spokesperson for the State Attorney’s Office said in a statement that prosecutors don’t distinguish between a plea and a trial verdict.
“Our office does not track plea deals [versus] trials. A conviction is a conviction to us regardless of whether it was obtained by plea or by trial,” according to the statement.
Plea agreements usually push criminal cases to quicker resolutions than jury trials, with proceedings generally concluding before the defendants’ 180-day speedy trial deadlines. However, the outcomes left many victims’ families dissatisfied with the results.
For example, on Jan. 20, 19-year-old Deamarco Smoot accepted an eight-year plea deal for the attempted murder of two victims in downtown Baltimore last summer. Both victims, one of whom was a minor, were shot in the ankles. The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. on June 1, 2025, on the unit block of E. Redwood Street.
Smoot pleaded guilty before Judge Anthony F. Vittoria to charges of attempted second-degree murder and firearm use. He was sentenced to 30 years, suspending all but eight, and five years of supervised probation for the attempted murder charge. He was also handed a concurrent five-year sentence without parole for firearm use, and will be required to register as a gun offender upon release.
The prosecution dismissed Smoot’s 17 remaining charges, including attempted first‑degree murder, conspiracy, and multiple assault and weapons offenses.
Smoot initially faced a plea offer of 30 years, suspending all but 10, but defense attorney Avrohom Greenfield successfully argued for a reduced sentence that resolved a previous case. Prosecutors informed the court that both victims were aware of the conditions of the plea deal, even though they were not present. As the negotiated agreement was concluded, three members of Smoot’s family observed the hearing from the gallery.
Plea agreements such as Smoot’s typically resolve faster, in exchange for a lesser sentence or dismissed charges. Earlier this year, a young victim raised concerns about the sentence handed to the man who shot him in the face, imploring the court to explain whether a five-year supervised probation would ensure his safety.
The shooter, 47-year-old Rodney J. Addison, received a life sentence, suspending 18 years. If he does not violate the terms of his sentence and exhibits good behavior while incarcerated, he may be released in as little as nine years.
The sentence was decided by a binding plea, meaning the offered term could only be reduced at the approval of the court. Judge Yolanda A. Tanner explained that the five-years comprised the maximum possible probationary period for criminal defendants, and that the court could not legally bind Addison to a longer term.
With fewer defendants taking pleas, Baltimore City Circuit Court will likely face an increase in trials.
