A 41-year-old father was sentenced on Jan. 7 for shooting his daughter last April during what counsel agreed was an alcohol-fueled incident.
Kelvin Evans was initially facing attempted murder, assault and weapons charges, but pleaded guilty in October to first-degree assault and firearm use in a felony or violent crime for a sentence within the guidelines of five to nine years. The imposition was delayed until January to complete a pre-sentencing investigation as well as defense attorney Arthur Baker’s request for a psychosocial evaluation.
On Wednesday, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Cucuzzella imposed a sentence of 20 years, suspending all but five years without parole, and three years of supervised probation for the two charges. Evans is required to complete alcohol treatment and education and abstain from alcohol use.
Judge Cucuzzella also recommended the defendant for mental health treatment and a cognitive behavioral-based therapy for anger management.
“I don’t believe that we are defined by our worst days,” the prosecutor said to the judge. “I think our worst days define parts of our life when we need the most help and the most healing.”
The prosecutor and Baker both agreed Evan’s heavy alcohol use was a contributing factor to the defendant shooting his daughter outside the family’s home on the 2100 block of Mulberry Street on April 14, 2025. Baltimore Police responded to the scene and found the defendant’s daughter with a gunshot wound to the right side of her chest. She was then taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment.
The shooting was captured on video, identifying Evans.
“He wasn’t taking care of his own emotional needs and physical needs…,” the prosecutor explained. “Ultimately, when I look at this case, it was shocking to see the video, but it was also really shocking to see a man in enough pain to do that.”
“It’s clear there’s nothing behind those eyes there,” Baker later noted, referring to Evans in the video. The defense attorney said his client would “knock himself out with alcohol” by drinking one liter every night.
The prosecutor proffered the court to show “a degree of mercy so Mr. Evans can learn from this experience, grow from this experience, but not be defined by it.”
Baker expressed a similar sentiment, saying Evans was lucky to have this prosecutor as opposing counsel “because negotiations certainly didn’t start anywhere near where we’re at today.”
Judge Cucuzzella noted that what happened could have been far worse.
“This was not so much an incidence of malice as it was attributable to someone who has lost his way…and who needs help,” he concluded.
