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By
Andrew Michaels
- February 1, 2024
Attempted Murder
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Court
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Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Attempted homicide defendant Devonta Hunter-Bergess pleaded guilty to eight years in prison for assault and a weapons charges on Feb. 1 for his involvement in a road rage incident on Wildwood Parkway in April 2023.
The 28-year-old defendant was initially charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firing a gun in Baltimore City and two counts of firearm use in a felony or violent crime. He chose to accept the prosecutor’s plea offer rather than proceed to trial on Thursday before Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays.
Hunter-Bergess was sentenced to a suspended ten years and 18 months of supervised probation for second-degree assault and a consecutive 20 years, suspending all but eight years—the first five of which are without parole—and an additional 18 months of supervised probation for firearm use in a felony or violent crime. Judge Mays agreed to waive court costs and supervision fees.
The prosecution informed the court that had Hunter-Bergess proceeded with a trial, she would have presented evidence showing that the defendant was driving on the 1000 block of Wildwood Parkway around 12:30 a.m. on April 12, 2023, when another driver almost ran him off of the road. After following the vehicle, Hunter-Bergess allegedly got out of his vehicle to confront the other driver, who exited his vehicle moments later.
Hunter-Bergess claimed the driver began approaching him and had something in his hand, charging documents state. When the driver was about 20 feet away from the defendant, Hunter-Bergess saw the man had a handgun, hid behind his vehicle and fired his own handgun at the other driver.
The victim returned fire as the defendant ran out of ammunition. Hunter-Bergess then pulled out another handgun and continued shooting, charging documents state.
Thirty-eight shell casings were found at the scene, the prosecutor said.
On Thursday, Hunter-Bergess’ defense attorney, Isaac Klein, said his client called 911 and stayed nearby until Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers arrived. Police later found the victim with eight gunshot wounds inside his vehicle, which crashed on the 2800 block of Franklin Street.
Klein noted the defendant, who was uninjured, had a wear and carry permit. Defense counsel also added that he will file a motion to modify Hunter-Bergess’ sentence and the prosecution will consider placing the defendant on probation before judgement.