Woman Sentenced to 30 Years for Ex-Girlfriend’s Attempted Murder

By Andrew Michaels - December 19, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A 31-year-old Baltimore woman was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Dec. 19 for the attempted murder of her ex-girlfriend and three others in June 2022.

In March, Shanikiqua Jones was found guilty of two counts of attempted second-degree murder as well as first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, having a handgun on her person, discharging firearms and firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

Jones and her defense attorney, Todd Oppenheim, appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Erik S. Atas for sentencing on Dec. 19.

“You don’t pull the trigger without doing what guns are meant to do, which is kill,” the prosecutor said before the court.

Reflecting on the testimony from trial, the prosecution reminded the judge of Jones’ actions on June 27, 2022, when she opened fire on a vehicle with occupants, including her ex-girlfriend and three other victims. The defendant was upset after learning her ex-girlfriend was dating someone else.

The prosecutor said the incident happened “over something so minute,” and recommended a sentence of 80 years, suspending all but 40 years, and the first five years without parole. She also requested the defendant stay away from all of the victims and register as a gun offender.

Oppenheim argued the prosecutor’s recommendation was “way too much time,” adding only one of the victims testified at trial. Jones also apologized for her behavior.

Judge Atas said he remembered the trial for its “uniqueness,” saying that while he appreciated the defendant’s apology, “it doesn’t excuse the serious nature of this.”

“These cases don’t happen in a box,” the judge said. “They are making our community scary for everyone.”

Judge Atas then imposed the following sentence: 30 years, suspending all but 15 years, and five years of probation, the first two of which will be supervised, for attempted second-degree murder, a consecutive 30 years, suspending all but 10 years, for the second count of attempted second-degree murder, a concurrent 10 years for first-degree assault, a consecutive five years for reckless endangerment, a concurrent three years for having a handgun on her person, a concurrent one year for discharging firearms and a concurrent five years without parole for firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

Jones’ total sentence was 60 years, suspending all but 30 years, the first five years without parole as well as stay away from the victims and register as a gun offender. 

Judge Atas said the defendant must serve at least half of her sentence before possible parole. The judge added that he is not opposed to modifying Jones’ sentence after this time, but expects no infractions from the defendant while incarcerated.