Despite his cries for help, a Baltimore man was called a “threat to public safety” during sentencing on Oct. 7 by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles Henry Dorsey III.
Kevin Barnes Jr., 40, pleaded guilty on June 4 to reckless endangerment and firearm possession for a Sept. 6 laundromat shooting.
According to charging documents, police responded to the 3600 block of Mt. Pleasant Street, where they found Barnes lying on the ground, suffering a gunshot wound to the knee. Barnes told police he was walking from a laundromat on the 100 block of South Conkling Street when he was shot and fled to Mt. Pleasant Street
Surveillance footage later showed a silver Jeep abruptly stopping next to Barnes as he walked. Barnes continued walking, but later pulled a firearm from his waistband and fired at the victim. Barnes hid behind a nearby car and was seen limping away.
Additional recovered footage showed an unknown Hispanic male exiting his vehicle, pulling out a gun and firing at Barnes. The unknown male then fled the scene.
Prior to the sentencing, the court heard from Barnes, who expressed, “I’m asking the court for help; I don’t wanna do this s***t no more. If I didn’t have that gun, I would’ve been dead that day. Sentencing is no help; I’m going back to the same place when I’m released. Give me some type of help; I need help.”
However, the judge wasn’t moved based on how he characterized Barnes’ past behavior.
“Don’t ask for help, and you don’t like the way help feels. You tried your way; every time you end up in handcuffs. You are a threat to public safety.” the judge concluded before imposing the sentence.
Barnes was sentenced to 15 years, suspending all but five years for firearm possession, five years consecutive for reckless endangerment, and three years of supervised probation.
No further proceedings are scheduled.
