Defendant Accepts Guilty Plea in East 37th Street Shooting

By Sarah Mullen [former] - March 11, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

After asking attempted murder defendant Iehkeem Arghmoun Byrd a series of basic questions to confirm his mental competency, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence R. Daniels declared that the defendant willingly and knowingly accepted his binding plea deal on March 11.

Byrd is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. Additionally, he is charged with having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, attempted theft of less than $500, firing a gun in Baltimore city and firearm use in a felony violent crime. 

On Monday morning, Byrd stood next to defense attorney Amanda Savage as he pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to a non-fatal shooting. On April 26, 2023, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to a report of shots fired on the 700 block of East 37th Street. The defendant allegedly attempted to steal money from the victims’ home. When they intervened, Byrd shot his ex-girlfriend, who was pregnant with his child, in the left leg. 

For using a firearm in a felony violent crime, the prosecutor offered Byrd a plea agreement for a 15 year sentence, suspending all but five years, the first five years without the possibility of parole, with three years of supervised probation. For first-degree assault, she offered an identical, concurrent sentence of 15 years, suspending all but five years, the first five without the possibility of parole, with three years of supervised probation.

As part of the agreement, Byrd must cease all contact with the two victims, register as a gun offender and successfully complete the abuser intervention program offered by the House of Ruth. 

“Violence is never the answer,” counseled Judge Daniels as he encouraged 20-year-old Byrd to take advantage of his intelligence and do something positive with his life upon his release.