Homicide Defendant’s Trial Scheduled for May 2022

By Alyssia Davis [former] - November 17, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A 45-year-old Baltimore resident accused of homicide rejected a plea offer given on Nov. 16 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn. 

Daya Jones is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a violent crime, having a handgun on his person and in a vehicle, as well as two counts of possession of a firearm with a felony conviction in connection to an incident on April 19.

Judge Phinn listened as the prosecutor presented a plea of 40 years, suspending all but 30 years, with five years probation for first-degree murder, and 20 years, suspending all but five years, with the first five years without parole to run consecutively for use of a firearm in a violent crime.

The total sentence under the plea was 60 years, suspending all but 35 years, the first five without parole, and five years probation.   

Jones and his defense attorney, Karyn Meriwether, rejected the plea. Jones also maintained his Hick’s date, which is his right to be tried within 180 days of his first court appearance. 

According to CBS Baltimore, on April 19, at approximately 4:30 a.m., officers responded to reports of gunshots on the 700 block of Woodbourne Avenue, where they found 27-year-old Nikea Jackson, who was allegedly the defendant’s girlfriend. She had been shot. The victim was taken to Sinai Hospital where she shortly died after. However, some officers were able to retain some information from her before she died, which identified  Jones as a suspect. 

Four days later, Jones was arrested on the 7900 block of Pulaski Highway and taken to the homicide unit where he made a full confession, police said.

Jones’ trial is scheduled for May 17, 2022, with Judge Gregory Sampson presiding.