Trial Set for Man Who Admitted to Fatal Shooting

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A 21-year-old man accused of fatally shooting Ivan Joseph Green in April was offered a plea of life on Dec. 20 at Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Cortez Johnson is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person, and possession of a firearm as a minor in connection to Green’s murder on April 17.

If convicted of all charges, Johnson faces a potential maximum sentence of life plus 28 years.

During Monday’s court proceedings, the prosecution offered Johnson a plea of life for first-degree murder, which defense attorney Michael Cooper said he had not yet relayed to his client. However, Cooper noted, the same plea was offered to Johnson on a previous date and rejected.

According to the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, shortly after 7:30 p.m., Baltimore Police Department officers were called to 1904 Braddish Avenue where they found Green with a gunshot wound in a kitchen inside the residence.

Green was pronounced dead at the scene.

The defendant, who was riding a public bus, allegedly called 911 and said he “just killed someone,” the state’s attorney’s office reported. When police found the bus on the 200 block of N. Hilton Street, Johnson walked towards them with his arms out and told them to “cuff me up, you already know.”

Johnson’s trial date is scheduled for Sept. 13, 2022.