One-Time College Football Player Accepts Plea Deal in Shooting

By Sara Palmer - February 28, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A 22-year old defendant in an attempted murder trial appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge M. Brooke Murdock on Feb. 28 to plead guilty. 

Tyrell Whitt, represented by Christopher O’Meara, accepted a plea deal of five years for first-degree assault, five years for firearm use in a felony violent crime and five years for reckless endangerment. All three charges are set to run concurrently with credit accounted for time already served since his arrest. 

O’Meara told Judge Murdock he believed Whitt was “an exceptional young man,” who will turn his life around following this event. Whitt previously played football at Lincoln University near Oxford, Pa., where he studied psychology.  

On Aug. 22, 2023, Whitt rejected the prosecution’s previous offer of 30 years, suspending all but seven years, and five years of supervised probation for attempted second-degree murder, five years without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a felony violent crime, two years for reckless endangerment and one year for carrying a handgun. All charges were set to run consecutively.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, an officer with the University of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) said he saw the defendant fire a gun on the 700 block of West Lombard Street on June 28, 2022.

The officer testified that Whitt shot at a Toyota Prius driving by. Whitt then fled on foot and was apprehended. The Prius was hit by multiple bullets, but none of the passengers were injured.