Defendant Shot Victim to Protect His Brother, Defense Counsel Says During Sentencing for 2021 Fourth of July Homicide

By Andrew Michaels - June 6, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Homicide defendant Devin Davis openly apologized to the family of Christopher McCargo on June 5 when the 34-year-old man was sentenced for fatally shooting McCargo on the Fourth of July two years ago.

Davis was scheduled to begin a jury trial on Monday but agreed to a plea offer with the prosecution alongside his defense counsel, Andrea Jaskulsky. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Stephen Sfekas agreed to the plea of 10 years for a lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter and a consecutive 20 years, suspending all but 10 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony violent crime.

Under the plea, Davis must also register as a gun offender and stay away from McCargo’s family.

“I deeply apologize,” Davis tearfully said as he addressed the victim’s family. “I was trying to leave. I was trying to go about my business.”

Earlier in the proceedings, Jaskulsky explained that Davis and his twin brother were walking with McCargo, 28, on the 4700 block of Gwynn Oak Avenue on July 4, 2021, when McCargo punched Davis’ brother. This was corroborated by video surveillance footage obtained by Baltimore Police, according to court documents.

Davis then took out a handgun and fired multiple shots at McCargo before he ran away on foot towards Liberty Heights Avenue, while his brother drove off in a white Lexus. Police were able to identify Davis by finding the vehicle’s owner.

McCargo was pronounced dead within the hour.

“Cases like this are tragic all of the way around,” Jaskulsky said. “…[The defendant’s] reaction was one of, ‘I need to protect my brother.’ He wasn’t out there looking to sell drugs [or] commit a crime.”

McCargo’s sister also addressed the court on behalf of her family, telling Judge Sfekas that her mother’s mental and physical health has severely deteriorated since McCargo’s untimely death. She continued by thanking Davis for accepting the plea.

“Think about what you’re doing before you do it,” she concluded with parting advice. “You still have a chance to make yourself a better person.”