‘Vigilante Justice’ Gets Attempted Homicide Defendant Three-Year Prison Sentence

By Andrew Michaels - December 12, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

Surrounded by over a dozen family members, a resident of Pigtown listened closely to Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles Blomquist as he imposed a sentence for what he described as “vigilante justice.”

“For the city to heal, survive, firearms are not what we should go to, to resolve things,” the judge said to attempted homicide defendant Deshun Smith on Dec. 12.

Smith accepted a guilty plea of 15 years, suspending all but time served, three years of supervised probation for first-degree assault, and a consecutive three years for having a handgun on his person.

Earlier in the proceedings, the prosecution recounted the events of March 7 that led to multiple attempted murder, assault, and weapons charges against the 20-year-old defendant, who was represented by defense attorney Roland Harris.

Shortly before 11:45 a.m., Baltimore Police officers were called to the 1100 block of Sergeant Street, where they found the victim with a gunshot wound to his right hand. The prosecutor said police followed a trail of blood to the 1300 block of W. Cross Street and found one projectile.

Smith, who was arrested a short time after the incident, also injured his left hand.

Further investigation revealed that the defendant and victim had known one another for about five years. The prosecutor said an altercation ensued after Smith accused the victim of touching his 13-year-old daughter inappropriately.

“I understand the desire to protect a family member,” said the judge, explaining that gun violence is not how conflicts should be resolved.

Harris later informed the court that he believed the victim to be “very dangerous.

“I don’t think [Smith] understood how rapidly it would unfold,” he added.

Under the sentencing, Judge Blomquist also required Smith to obtain his GED, seek or obtain employment upon his release, stay away from the victim, and register as a gun offender.