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Racquel Bazos
- January 29, 2024
Attempted Murder
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Court
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Daily Stories
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Juveniles
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Shooting
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Suspects
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On Jan. 29, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland agreed to schedule an 18-year-old attempted murder defendant’s trial in June despite her preference for an earlier date.
Rito Cox III is charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm as a minor, illegal possession of ammunition, having a handgun on his person and firing a gun in Baltimore City in connection to a June 15, 2023, incident.
The prosecution offered Cox the same 20-year plea deal as on Jan. 9, which he again rejected.
Although Judge Copeland told counsel to find a trial date before June, they were unable to find a mutually agreeable date for the five-day trial. Defense attorneys Julie Shapiro and Sheri Scott-Redwood and the prosecutor told the court they will only be available to try the case in late June.
Judge Copeland scheduled Cox’s trial to begin on June 20 before Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer.