Homicide Defendant’s Sentencing Pushed to October for W. Fayette Street Fatal Robbery

By Andrew Michaels - August 22, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

The sentencing of 32-year-old homicide defendant Jerome Johnson was cancelled on Aug. 22 and pushed to October for reasons unknown to Baltimore Witness.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Paul E. Alpert was scheduled to preside over the sentencing, which did not occur as he was in another trial. The case’s postponement was not announced in a public hearing, but confirmed after contacting the senior judge’s chambers.

Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder, armed robbery and two counts of attempted armed robbery on July 10 at the conclusion of his jury trial before Judge Alpert. The defendant was represented by defense attorney Andre Mahasa.

Johnson and his co-defendant, 33-year-old Steven Arthur, were charged in connection to the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Jameo McClean during an armed robbery with four additional victims on the 1900 block of W. Fayette Street on May 31, 2021. Charging documents state one of the surviving male victims flagged down a Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officer outside of the residence, where McClean’s body was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to his head.

During their investigation, BPD learned that McClean had a phone call with a person identified as “Steve” through Facebook Messenger on the day of the incident. A short time later, “Steve” and another man, identified as the defendant, went to McClean’s home and began arguing over money when witnesses reported hearing a gunshot.

The two suspects then took one of the male victims to the basement and demanded money, court documents state. However, the victim didn’t comply and was taken upstairs, where Arthur and Johnson allegedly “forced him to the floor, stuffed a blanket in his mouth and wrapped it around his head, suffocating him.”

Another male victim and a female victim were also robbed, while a fourth male victim was assaulted.

Johnson’s sentencing is currently scheduled for Oct. 20, with Arthur’s trial set for Oct. 30.

Arthur’s charges include five counts each of conspiracy to armed robbery and firearm use in a felony or violent crime, three counts each of armed robbery and attempted armed robbery, two counts each of first-degree murder and first-degree assault and single counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction, attempt to kill/murder and conspiracy to first-degree murder.