Defendant Accused in Fatal Shooting of 27-Year-Old Man Rejects Life with Parole

By Baltimore Witness staff - January 25, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A Baltimore man accused of fatally shooting a 27-year-old man last September rejected a life sentence with the possibility of parole on Jan. 24 in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

During Monday’s proceedings, 31-year-old Marcus Owens and his defense attorney, Karyn Meriwether, rejected the prosecution’s offer of life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. However, the prosecutor noted that he anticipated the plea would be revised in the near future.

The prosecutor also informed Judge Melissa M. Phinn that all discovery was made available to the defendant and would be sent to Meriwether by the end of the day.

Owens was arrested by Baltimore Police Department officers on Sept. 24, 2021, three days after he allegedly shot Kevin Kelly multiple times around 2 a.m. on the 2500 block of Washington Boulevard. Kelly was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Following his arrest, Owens was charged with first-degree murder, firearm use during a felony violent crime, and having a handgun on his person.

Counsel agreed to return to reception court on March 28.