Forty-Eight Percent of June’s Homicide, Non-Fatal Shooting Cases Resolved Before Trial

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Nearly half of all homicide and non-fatal shooting cases scheduled for trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court so far this month were resolved before moving forward, according to the latest data from Baltimore Witness.

There were 25 homicide, attempted murder and non-fatal shooting cases that were set for trial between June 2 and June 20. Out of the 25 cases, Baltimore Witness reported nine cases with defendants who opted for plea agreements with the State’s Attorney’s Office. A 61-year-old man in Baltimore City’s Towanda-Grantley neighborhood was among those to accept a plea offer in connection to the death of his 13-month-old grandson, Messiah Heggie, in 2023.

On June 9, Steven Heggie Sr. agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter by way of gross negligence.

“Grossly negligent means that the defendant, while aware of the risk, acted in a manner that created a high degree of risk to and showed the reckless disregard for human life,” the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecution, Messiah’s father dropped his son off at the defendant’s home in the early morning on Oct. 27, 2023. Heggie later told detectives with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) that he snorted cocaine from a gel capsule right before his son and grandson arrived so he “would be able to function with the baby.”

Around 9:30 a.m., Heggie and Messiah allegedly laid down on a bed for a nap, where the defendant told police he had used capsules in his pocket, on the bed and on the bedside table. Heggie awoke to Messiah’s father finding the baby unresponsive.

Messiah was pronounced dead at Sinai Hospital and, in February 2024, Messiah’s death was ruled a homicide via fentanyl intoxication.

Although Heggie’s sentence was delayed pending pre-sentencing and medical evaluations, counsel and Judge John A. Howard spoke during a bench conference when defense attorney Robert Cohen—alongside co-counsel Janet Andersen—mentioned a proposed agreement of 10 years, suspending all but four years, and three years of supervised probation. The prosecutor noted he would likely argue for a six-year sentence.

The maximum sentence for grossly negligent manslaughter is 10 years incarceration.

Judge Howard and counsel agreed to return to court on Aug. 19 when counsel will argue Heggie’s sentencing.

Baltimore Witness also identified three attempted murder cases that were dismissed behind witness issues.

Three attempted murder cases were dismissed since June 2, all due to issues obtaining witnesses. Judge Cynthia H. Jones presided over two of the dismissals: 34-year-old Travis Turner on June 9 and 21-year-old Elijah Stanley on June 16.

After problems finding a witness, the prosecutor moved to dismiss the charges against Turner, which included attempted first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and assault, home invasion, robbery and multiple firearm-related offenses. The same prosecutor also cited witness issues in Stanley’s case where the BPD was unable to serve subpoenas to two witnesses.

Stanley is facing charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and assault, attempted first-degree murder and assault, and firearm-related offenses.

The remaining cases scheduled for trial in June, as cited by counsel, include nine cases that have been postponed due to ongoing plea negotiations, changes in a defendant’s competency and preparedness of counsel.