Elderly Homicide Defendant Headed to Trial for Murder From 1973

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An elderly man accused of a murder from 1973 had a trial scheduled for mid-January 2023 on June 7 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn

Gold Leroy Bass Jr. is charged with first-degree murder and handgun use in committing a crime in connection to an incident on Dec. 21, 1973. 

On Tuesday, Judge Phinn informed the court that the prosecutor offered Bass two life sentences, both suspending all but time served, and one year of probation for first-degree murder, and two concurrent sentences of time served for handgun use in committing a crime.

According to the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, Bass was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Harry McGee and Nathaniel Sheppard on December 21, 1973.

Bass and a friend got into the backseat of a vehicle driven by McGee, with Sheppard in the front passenger’s seat, to purchase marijuana, the state’s attorney’s office reported. After parking the vehicle at the Wakefield Apartment complex on the 4900 block of Challedon Road, Bass and McGee exchanged words about the drug deal when Bass fired a handgun and shot and shattered the driver’s window.

It wasn’t long after that Bass shot and killed both victims.

Bass’ trial is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2023. 

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