Prosecutor Offers Defendant Deal in Attempted Murder Case if She Testifies Against Her Codefendant 

By Amna Syed [former] - August 31, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Aug. 30, a prosecutor told a 29-year-old attempted murder defendant that he would only charge her with assault in a 2022 non-fatal shooting case if she agreed to testify against her codefendant.

It was stated by the prosecutor that defendant Pierrerea Henry was asked to testify against her codefendant Alvin Cunningham, who also happens to be her boyfriend. Her decision to testify against him is currently pending, and the assistant state’s attorney has given her until Cunningham’s trial to decide. If she accepts the terms of her plea, the defendant will only be charged with one count of second-degree assault. The prosecutor also stated that if a jury finds Henry guilty, then she will have to testify against Cunningham.  

Prior to the trial, the assistant state’s attorney was under the impression that there was a motion to join the two defendants. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn explained that just because the hearing was scheduled on the same day doesn’t mean the cases were formally joined. 

With this being said, Judge Phinn sets a trial date for Cunningham on Dec. 6, to last three days before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Videtta A. Brown.

Henry’s decision to accept the plea is still pending. According to the Maryland Judiciary website, she is expected to appear in court on Jan. 10, 2024.

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, both Cunningham and Henry have the same charges including two counts of attempted first degree murder, two counts of attempted second degree murder, two counts of first degree assault, two counts of second degree assault, having a handgun on their person, having a loaded handgun on their person, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle, use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, and selling a stolen pistol. 

The Maryland Judiciary website states that Cunningham has additional charges including the possession of a firearm with a drug conviction and the illegal possession of ammunition.

Documents from the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City state that an officer responded to Gwynn Falls Parkway due to an aggravated assault by shooting. A witness advised the officer that the victim was shot at by Cunningham. The victim reported that there was a physical altercation between himself and Cunningham relating to Henry. Henry then ordered her boyfriend, Cunningham, to “just kill him,” which compelled him to take his black semi-automatic handgun and shoot. The bullet hit the back passenger window of the car in which the victim was seated in, though no one was injured as a result of the shooting. 

Documents further state that the victim is the father of Henry’s child, and they were communicating throughout the day about her coming to get their son. The communication led to arguing, and soon Henry and Cunningham arrived at the location where her son was staying. The victim stated that Cunningham had called and sent multiple threats throughout the day. The victim and Henry began to argue, causing Cunningham to leave his vehicle and fight the victim. One of the witnesses broke up the fight, and the victim left and sat inside a second witness’s vehicle. This is when the incident of the shooting occurred. The victim and the witnesses reported and confirmed the same statement.