Homicide Defendant Rejects Plea 

By Alyssia Davis [former] - August 31, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides |

A Baltimore resident rejected a plea offer on Aug. 31 during reception court at Baltimore City Circuit Court before Judge Melissa M. Phinn.  

Darrell Lashad Burrell, 29, is charged with first and second-degree murder, use of a firearm in a violent crime, and firearm possession with a felony conviction in connection to an incident on Dec. 24, 2017.

Judge Phinn listened as the prosecutor presented a plea of life, suspending all but 25 years, with five years supervised probation for first-degree murder. 

The defendant and his defense attorney, Jason Ott, rejected the plea offer.

Judge Phinn scheduled the trial for Feb. 15, 2022, before Judge Anthony F. Vittoria.  

CBS Baltimore reported that Burrell was involved in a verbal dispute on Dec. 25, 2017, at a bar, then known as Loafer’s Lounge, on the 6500 block of Baltimore National Pike. Burrell and an associate, William Johnson, later waited outside for the others to leave the bar when they began shooting at them.

Johnson shot one man in the chest, and Burrell allegedly fired into the group from both the ground and his car. Both men then drove away. 

On July 12, Ott requested a postponement so he can have time to reach out to Baltimore County about a separate case involving the defendant.