Man Gets Shot In Head for Pointing Empty Gun

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Homicide defendant Mandarin Jessup, 42, rejected a plea offer of five years without the possibility of parole before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong on March 26, leading defense attorney Brandon Mead to request a postponement before Judge Melissa K. Copeland.

Jessup is charged with second-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, and firearm possession with a prior conviction in connection to the Aug. 10, 2024, fatal shooting of Sean Anthony Henson Sr., 49, in a residence located on the 100 block of Tiffany Court. According to court documents, officers responded to a shooting inside of a home. When they arrived they found Sean Anthony Henson Sr., 49, lying on the sofa with a gunshot wound to the head.

Court documents state that Jessup was visiting his cousin’s Tiffany Court residence while Henson, a mutual friend of Jessup and his cousin, was also present. Henson had just finished his shift as an armed security guard.

According to a witness, after Jessup used the bathroom, Henson jokingly pointed his empty gun at him. In response, Jessup shot Henson.

Mead requested a postponement to give his client time to make a decision and prepare for the case. The prosecution objected to the postponement, noting that all five witnesses in the case had arrived for the hearing.

Judge Copeland approved Mead’s request and reset the trial date for March 28. Jessup is expected to make a decision regarding the plea offer by that time.