Judge Schedules Trial for Russell Street Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant after She Rejects Plea

By Ting Hong [former] , Ashleigh Joplin [former] - March 20, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A defendant accused of attempted first-degree murder received a trial date during reception court before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on March 20. 

On Monday, the prosecution offered defendant Kevia Purnell a plea of 25 years, suspending all but ten years with three years of supervised probation for first-degree assault and a concurrent sentence of five years without the possibility of parole for the use of a firearm in a felony violent crime.

Purnell, 31, and her defense attorney, Linda Zeit, rejected the plea offered by the prosecutor..

Purnell elected to retain her Hick’s right, which is her right to be tried within 180 days of her or her attorney’s first court appearance; however, Judge Phinn found probable cause to go beyond this date of June 10. 

Judge Phinn scheduled Purnell’s trial for July 17 with Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin Schreiber presiding. 

According to the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), detectives believe Purnell shot a 30-year-old male victim after an argument on the 1500 block of Russell Street on Oct. 17, 2022.

Purnell is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle, illegal possession of ammunition, and discharging a firearm in connection to the shooting.