The defense for a suspected shooter turned down a plea deal in a reception court hearing in Baltimore Circuit Court before Judge Melissa K. Copeland on Aug 27.
The defendant Paul Hunter, 37, will stand trial on Nov 18.
According to the statement of charges, on March 31, three officers responded to the 200 block of N. Patterson Park Avenue following a ShotSpotter alert from the 400 block of N. Bradford Avenue An officer was flagged down by bystanders who stated that the victim was inside of the Pizza Bolis restaurant.
When the officer entered the restaurant, he saw a Black male with several bullet wounds–several times–two to the lower abdomen, two to the lower back, and one gunshot wound to the left upper arm. Medics took the victim to John Hopkins Hospital where he received treatment for his injuries.
During the officer’s search of the crime scene he located four shell casings in the side alley next to the restaurant.
At the hospital the officer received confirmation the victim suffered four gunshot wounds. He also reportedly had a black capsule with unspecified contents and $1642 in cash on him that was recovered and seized and submitted for investigation.
The lead detective on the case located surveillance video footage and witnesses from the night of the incident.
Through witnesses he was able to develop information about what happened leading up to the shooting. The victim got into a verbal altercation with a woman that turned physical. She in turn called Hunter for help using his nickname, “Dummy.” The two men got into a fight during which Hunter allegedly shot the victim.
Hunter was charged with attempted first- degree murder, assault in the first-degree, use of firearm and the possession of firearm in the commission of a felony, handgun on person, discharge of handgun within Baltimore City, and reckless endangerment.
During the hearing, the prosecutor offered Hunter a plea deal of life suspending all but 30 years with five years of supervised probation, no contact with the victim and the defendant must register as a gun offender as well as concurrent 15 years suspending all but 5 years without parole and 5 years of supervised probation for use of firearm in commission of violent crimes.
The offer was rejected by Hunter’s attorney Roya Hanna, for now to discuss the deal further with her client.
Hunter will stand trial on Nov. 18 scheduled for three days and a judge is yet to be assigned.
