Homicide Defendant Pleads Guilty to Murdering His Cousin in 2022 Fatal Shooting

By Alyssia Davis [former] - March 8, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On March 7, a Baltimore man facing murder charges pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Myshala E. Middleton. 

“My life has been all messed up. You didn’t have to kill my son,” the victim’s mother said through sobs as she delivered her impact statement on Friday. “It was never that serious. Y’all are first cousins.”

“This is one the saddest moments I’ve seen since sitting here at this bench,” said Judge Middleton. “Hearing that the victim and the defendant grew up together makes this more difficult.” 

The defendant, Davone McDaniels, was sentenced to 20 years, the first five years without the possibility of parole for the use of a firearm during a felony violent crime, and a consecutive 40 years, suspending all but 15 years with five years supervised probation for first-degree murder in connection to the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Tarone Thompson on Jan. 15, 2022. 

Upon release, the defendant must register as a gun offender. 

According to a news release, on the day of the incident, officers were called to the 2300 block of W. Lanvale Street for reports of a shooting. On arrival, officers found Thompson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. 

“This is an excruciatingly difficult case to work on,” the 38-year-old defendant’s counsel Donald Wright told the courtroom. Wright said the impact statement really helped give an “idea of who the victim was and who the defendant is.” 

Wright acknowledged that McDaniels felt remorse for what he did and “will have to live with this for the rest of his life,” Wright said. 

“I didn’t plan to do this,” said the defendant through tears. “I am not a bad person. I’m sorry I took him away from everybody.”

“He wasn’t my cousin. He was my brother. I loved him more than I loved myself. If I could change it, I would.”