Man Sentenced to Life Plus 35 Years in Prison for 2021 Mass Shooting

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gregory Sampson sentenced a 49-year-old defendant to life plus 35 years in prison for the 2021 murder of a 29-year-old man on June 26.

Michael Harvey is sentenced to life in prison for both counts of first-degree murder, a consecutive term of 15 years for conspiracy to use a firearm in a felony violent crime and another consecutive 20 years for attempted first-degree murder. He is slated to serve concurrent sentences of 25 years for attempted first-degree murder and two counts each of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

The prosecutor stated that the sentencing would send a message to Harvey. She said he was trying to send a message to the community saying, “don’t mess with me.” She mentioned how Harvey was found guilty of shooting into a busy street in broad daylight and how he used “detached language” during the trial.

She quoted Harvey when he said during the trial that his defense attorney, Jason Ott, didn’t do a good job questioning the witness. The witness Harvey mentioned was in a wheelchair after being permanently paralyzed in the shooting.

“He’s right, I should’ve done a better job because we lost,” Ott said. He said Harvey accepted the verdict and that Harvey is remorseful for the victims.

There were three other victims, including Aaron Adams, who was found dead at the scene. The prosecutor said the paralyzed victim and one other victim couldn’t attend the sentencing out of fear from the shooting.

According to previous reports, on Dec. 17, 2021, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Laurens Street, where four people were shot. Adams was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other three victims were transported to the hospital. Surveillance footage showed a white minivan pulling up to the scene of the crime, two men exiting the van and then shooting.

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