North Payson Attempted Murder Suspect to Be Tried in May

By Racquel Bazos - December 12, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On Dec. 12, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton scheduled the trial date of a 39-year-old attempted murder defendant. 

John Saunders III is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction, having a loaded handgun on his person, having a handgun on his person, firing a gun within Baltimore City, having a gun within 100 yards of the public and illegal possession of ammunition in connection to a Jan. 19 incident. 

Though the parties were ready to begin trial today, the case was scheduled only as a backup before Judge Jeannie J. Hong. Because the primary matter before Judge Hong proceeded to jury selection, she sent Saunders’ case to Judge Middleton for rescheduling.

The assistant state’s attorney offered a modified plea agreement to Saunders in reception court. 

For attempted first-degree murder, the offer was 50 years, suspending all but 18 years in prison, and a concurrent 18 years, the first five years without the possibility of parole, for firearm use in a felony violent crime. Additionally, Saunders would have had to register as a gun offender and serve five years of supervised probation.

Saunders’ attorney Julie Shapiro rejected the offer on her client’s behalf.  Judge Middleton scheduled Saunders’ four-day trial to begin on May 28, 2024. 

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to the 1700 block of North Payson street after receiving a ShotSpotter alert in the area. They found a victim with a gunshot wound to the leg who could only gave police a description of the suspect’s clothing.

Surveillance camera footage showed a suspect riding an e-scooter in the area, wearing clothes matching the victim’s description. After cross-referencing the time and location with the e-scooter company, police identified Saunders as the suspect.