A 31-year-old man accused of shooting his girlfriend in a parking garage on New Year’s Day opted for a trial over a plea offer on April 5.
Jamal Artis is currently facing attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment and weapons charges for shooting his 22-year-old girlfriend multiple times inside a parking garage on the unit block of Guilford Avenue.
According to the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), officers heard the gunfire and arrived to find Artis leaving the garage stairwell onto East Baltimore Street. Police found the handgun on Artis and arrested him, while Artis’ girlfriend was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
On Friday, the prosecution offered Artis life, suspending all but 15 years, for attempted first-degree murder and a concurrent 20 years, suspending all but five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime. Under the plea, the defendant must also have no contact with the victim and register as a gun offender.
Singleton Matthews, who stood in for defense attorney Tyler Mann, told Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland that Artis rejected the offer and a three-day back-up trial was scheduled on July 9 before Judge Lawrence R. Daniels.
