The victim of a December 2024 armed home invasion spoke at his shooter’s sentencing on Jan. 7, describing the emotional, physical and financial struggles that befell his family during the “year of sadness” that followed.
“It has broken my dreams, my goals of assisting my family,” the victim told the court through the assistance of a Spanish-language interpreter. Prior to the attack, he had been a primary financial provider for his family. “But thank God I’m still alive, and I want justice to be made.”
Defendant Rodney J. Addison, 47, sat in silence throughout proceedings and denied his right to a make a formal statement. Addison now faces a sentence of life, suspending all but 18 years, having pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder. In exchange for his plea, the state agreed to dismiss his remaining eight charges, which include assault, home invasion, and four gun violations. Upon release, Addison faces five years of supervised probation, and will be required to stay away from the victim, his family and his place of residence.
Prior to the attack, Addison was a known frequent visitor to the victim’s neighborhood, specifically his older brother’s home, which was located just yards down from the victim’s on the 200 block of S. Stricker Street. The prosecutor described how on Dec. 11, 2024, shortly before 5 a.m., Addison broke into the side entrance of the victim’s home and made his way to the second floor, where he shot the victim in the face before fleeing. A .45-caliber cartridge casing was later recovered from the hallway.
The victim’s wound required a plate to be inserted inside his head that left him permanently unable to run.
“I love sports, but I cannot practice sports,” the victim said before taking a pause to collect himself. He described how the trauma from the attack affected other areas of his body as well. His liver became inflamed, requiring medication, and he recalled being unable to stand after the attack, needing a walker to assist him while he recovered his mobility.
“There was even a moment when I considered suicide,” the victim admitted. Prior to the attack, he had been a primary supporter of his family, but his physical condition and mental state left him unable to work or even focus on his studies, he said. His stepmother, who also attended the hearing, sat in the gallery wiping her tears.
She addressed the court as well, describing how the attack left her two minor children – one 14-year-old daughter and one five-year-old son – grappling with psychological trauma. Nightmares plague her, and both she and her stepson remain “constantly alert,” easily startled by loud noises within their own home.
“We had a normal life together and after what happened to us, we changed a lot,” an interpreter translated for her. The victim’s stepmother described how her daughter has been in psychotherapy since April last year, noting “she does certain things with fear, frustration” now. Her son, who is autistic, has also begun exhibiting symptoms of psychological trauma, and she hopes to take him to treatment as well. Despite not being related by blood, she admitted she thinks of and loves her stepson as her own.
“Although he says that everything is fine so that I won’t worry, I know it’s not,” she said tearfully. “Thanks to God, he’s alive.”
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner thanked the victim and his stepmother for their bravery and acknowledged their suffering, admitting she also fell victim to a home invasion that left her “jumpy for months.”
“I know it won’t ever go away, but I’m hoping that you’ll be able to move forward a bit…knowing that we are resolving this case today,” Judge Tanner told the victim’s stepmother.
As the hearing drew to a close, she extended words of encouragement to the victim as well.
“I heard what you said about your dream being broken,” she told him. “You still have direction, it’s just different.”
