Defendant in 2021 Reistertown Road Homicide Case Accepts Plea

By Racquel Bazos - July 18, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On July 17, Gregory Young, 46, was scheduled to begin a jury trial but instead pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of his friend, Terry Lewis, before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles J. Peters. 

Per Baltimore Witness’ previous reporting, negotiations on the deal had been delayed between Young’s counsel, Andrea Jaskulsky, and the prosecution several times due to both Lewis’ ultimate death from the shooting and difficulty finding his next of kin. 

The victim’s son appeared via Zoom and approved of the deal. At the end of the hearing, he told Young that his family forgave him and hoped he “gets back safe to his [own] family.”

For the charge of second-degree murder, Young, 46, agreed to a plea of 30 years, suspending all but 10, with credit for his time served since Nov. 24, 2021. For the use of a handgun in the commission of a felony violent crime, he received 20 years, suspending all but eight, the first five years of which he will be ineligible for parole. His sentences will run consecutively, for a total of 50 years, suspending all but 18, followed by five years of supervised probation.

The incident occurred on Aug. 19, 2021, on the 5200 block of Reisterstown Road. Though still alive after the shooting, Lewis suffered a massive heart attack days after identifying the defendant in a photo array and telling police they were friends. He then slipped into a persistent vegetative state at Sinai Hospital, where he later died of complications from his gunshot wounds on Mar. 20, 2022. 

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Young was originally charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction.