Shooter Who Fled on Scooter Takes Plea, Sentenced to 15 Years

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A 40-year-old man will spend the next 15 years behind bars after pleading guilty to an attempted murder in Baltimore City’s Easterwood neighborhood in January 2023.

John Saunders III contemplated moving forward with a jury trial on Sept. 23 only to opt for a plea agreement before Circuit Court Judge Martin P. Welch Monday afternoon. Saunders was sentenced to 50 years, suspending all but 15 years, for attempted first-degree murder and a concurrent 20 years, suspending all but 15 years, the first five years without parole, for firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

The plea also requires the defendant to register as a gun offender in addition to five years of supervised probation. Saunders was represented by defense attorney Jason Rodriguez.

According to charging documents, the defendant allegedly shot the victim in the leg on Jan. 19, 2023, on the 1700 block of North Payson Street. Baltimore Police officers found the victim, who gave them a description of the suspect’s clothing.

Detectives were able to identify the defendant through surveillance footage that showed him riding an e-scooter away from the scene and cross-referencing the time and location with the e-scooter company.