Defendant Pleads Guilty in Woodington Road Attempted Murder Case

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

A Baltimore City defendant accepted a prosecutor’s plea offer on Aug. 11 for a Woodington Road non-fatal shooting before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer.

Defendant Antoine Royster, represented by defense attorney Josh Insley, pled guilty to first-degree assault and firearm use in a felony violent crime.

The 58-year-old defendant received 25 years, suspending all but time already served, for first-degree assault. He was also sentenced to a concurrent 20 years, suspending all but ten years, without the possibility of parole for the first five years with four years of probation for firearm use in a felony violent crime. He was ordered to register with the Gun Offender Registry (GORA) and comply with the victim’s no-contact order.

The assistant state’s attorney previously offered a different plea deal which was rescinded when more incriminating evidence was discovered.

According to court records, the victim told police he had a brief verbal altercation with Royster at the unit block of S. Woodington Road while walking to his car on June 3, 2022. When the victim got into his car and looked up, Royster began shooting at his vehicle. On June 4, 2022, the victim called a detective when he saw the defendant outside Wooding Gardens apartments and waited until the police arrived.

Royster initially ran away from police when they approached him but was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit.

Royster was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) conviction, illegal possession of ammunition, discharging firearms, having a loaded handgun on his person, destruction of property worth over $1,000 and two counts of firearm possession with a felony violent crime.