Defendant Rejects 15-Year Plea Offer in West Lombard Street Non-Fatal Shooting Case

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A 21-year-old defendant charged with attempted murder rejected a 15-year plea deal offered in reception court on Aug. 22.

Defendant Tyrell Whitt, who was represented by Maureen O’leary, appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court. Judge Melissa M. Phinn presided over the hearing.

The prosecutor offered Whitt 30 years, suspending all but seven and five years of supervised probation for attempted second-degree murder, five years without parole for firearm use in a felony violent crime, two years for reckless endangerment, and one year for carrying a handgun. All charges were set to run consecutively.

Judge Phinn scheduled the defendant to appear for a three-day trial set to run on Oct. 19. Judge Phinn did not assign a judge to the trial, but has stated she will keep both attorneys informed.

According to the statement of charges, an officer with the University of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department said he saw the defendant fire a gun on the 700 Block of West Lombard Street on June 28, 2022. The officer testified that Whitt shot at a Toyota Prius driving by the block the defendant was standing on. Whitt then fled on foot and was apprehended. The Prius was hit by multiple bullets, but none of the passengers were injured.

Whitt is charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possessing a firearm as a minor, carrying a loaded handgun on his person, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm in Baltimore City.

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