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By
Alyssia Davis [former]
- March 17, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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“It’s hard being here speaking about the death of my baby,” said the victim’s mother through sobs as she addressed the courtroom on Tuesday. “The horrible murder of Khari was the hardest thing I’ve had to endure.”
A mother addressed Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby on March 14 through an impact statement during the sentencing of the man convicted of killing her son.
“I will never forgive you for the pain you caused,” she told the defendant. “I pray the defendant dies in prison.”
During the sentencing of Calvin Stevens, Judge Ausby said, “there was no mercy in the killing of Khari Johnson, it was cold and heartless.” The defendant traumatized not only the victim’s family but the people who witnessed the incident.
For that reason, the judge sentenced the defendant to 20 years, the first five years without parole for using a firearm during a felony violent crime, and a consecutive life sentence for first-degree murder.
On Nov. 23, 2022, Stevens was convicted of first-degree murder and the use of a firearm during a felony violent crime in connection to the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Johnson on Jan. 15, 2020.
The prosecutor stated prior to the incident, the defendant knew he was prohibited from having a gun due to his 2019 handgun conviction. He said the defendant was known to have one and consistently hung out on W. Baltimore Street.
He also said that the defendant had had several infractions while in prison, including fighting, digging holes in an attempt to escape, and getting weapons.
Therefore, the prosecutor suggested the defendant be given the maximum sentence for the crime.
Given the opportunity to address the court, the defendant said, “I ain’t commit this act of crime.”