Co-Defendants Get Trial Date in Double Homicide

By Evan McNeil [former] , Zoe Foringer-Laing [former], Connor Driscoll [former] - July 28, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Victims |

Two co-defendants accused of shooting and killing two people in 2019 rejected plea offers on July 28 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Charles Anderson, 19, and Donyell Morris, 20, both Baltimore residents, allegedly shot and killed a man and a woman on the 1200 block of Bloomingdale Road on July 2, 2019. One victim, Brittany Foster, was shot in the head, while the unidentified man was shot in the chest, according to The Black Media Authority.

During reception court on Wednesday, the prosecution offered Anderson and Morris life in prison, suspending all but 70 years, for first-degree murder, along with 15 years for using a firearm in a violent crime.

The pair is also charged with 15 years for armed robbery and three years for having a handgun on their person, with all charges running concurrently. In addition, Anderson and Morris face two counts of conspiracy charges for first-degree murder, armed robbery, and robbery, and one count of conspiracy to carrying a handgun.

Anderson’s defense attorney, Bradley MacFee, said his client rejected the offer. MacFee also requested that Anderson be evaluated for competency again due a previously failed evaluation in 2020.

Morris’ defense attorney, Robert Ness, also rejected the offer on his client’s behalf. 

Judge Melissa M. Phinn scheduled the co-defendants’ trial to begin on Dec. 21.

Another 2019 homicide case was heard during Wednesday’s proceedings.

Omar Holt was allegedly involved in a traffic accident on Aug. 21, 2019, that led to a homicide.

On Wednesday, Holt, 43, was offered a plea of 10 years, suspending all but seven, for manslaughter and an additional year in prison to run concurrently for a traffic violation.

Defense attorney Robert Cole rejected the offer on Holt’s behalf and said another plea deal is being negotiated. The defense explained that Holt’s time serving home detention could make him eligible for time served off of his sentence.

Holt is also charged with committing a homicide while intoxicated, negligent homicide by a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, homicide while operating a vehicle under the influence, and five additional traffic violations. 

Judge Phinn scheduled Holt to return to reception court on Aug. 9.

A return to reception court was also scheduled in the case of Baltimore resident Karon Tyree Johnson.

Johnson, 20, was allegedly involved in a fatal shooting on Dec. 13, 2019.

Johnson, represented by defense attorney Matthew Connell, was offered a plea of life for first-degree murder, which was relayed by Connell and rejected on Johnson’s behalf.

He is charged with 42 other offenses, including multiple counts of first and second-degree murder, six gun-related charges, and two attempted murder and reckless endangerment charges.

Johnson, who has two open cases, is set to return to reception court on Oct. 6 when both cases will be heard.

Judge Phinn scheduled another October court date in the case of Baltimore resident Teresa Henry-Cooper.

Henry-Cooper, 43, is charged in connection to a murder on Oct. 28, 2020.

The prosecution offered Henry-Cooper a plea of life, suspending all but 50 years, and five years probation for first-degree murder, and 15 years for firearm use in a violent crime to run concurrently.

Defense attorney Anne Stewart-Hill rejected the offer on Henry-Cooper’s behalf and told the court she wanted to take the case to trial.

Judge Phinn scheduled the trial for Oct. 26.