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Sophia Amoroso [former]
- February 14, 2024
Court
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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On Feb. 14, the jury reached a verdict in the case of Donte Simms for allegedly shooting and killing Eric Plater.
Simms, 45, was found not guilty of first- and second-degree murder, but the jury rendered a guilty verdict for voluntary manslaughter. In addition, the jury found Simms guilty of firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction.
Simms was charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction for the incident that happened at his barber shop on the 300 block of Park Avenue on Aug. 15, 2022.
According to the prosecution’s key witness, a jailhouse inmate awaiting trial for murder, the barber shop was a front for drug dealing and Simms shot Plater, 35, over an argument about money he owed.
During closing statements before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton, Simms’ defense attorney, Bradley L. MacFee, called the witness “a liar and a snake.” He claimed that Simms was defending himself against a robbery by Plater.
Simms’ sentencing is set for Aug. 16 before Judge Middleton.
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