Judge Schedules Shooting Defendant’s Trial in Towanda Avenue Case

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer scheduled a trial date on Dec. 7 for an attempted murder defendant after he rejected the plea agreement offered by the prosecution.

The 43-year-old defendant, Wesley Vanhook, is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, having a handgun on his person, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possessing a firearm with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and discharging a firearm within Baltimore City in connection to an incident on April 22.

The prosecution offered Vanhook a sentence of 70 years, suspending all but 45 years, with five years of probation for attempted first-degree murder, to run concurrently with five years without parole for firearm use in a felony violent crime and five years without parole for firearm possession with a felony conviction.

Defense attorney Michael Tomko rejected the offer on Vanhook’s behalf.

Judge Schiffer scheduled his three day trial as a backup case on April 2, 2024, before Judge Dana M. Middleton.

According to a Baltimore Police Department press release, detectives believe Vanhook shot a 55-year-old male on the 3700 block of Towanda Avenue on April 22.