Teresa Collins, 40, was sentenced to 65 years in prison on March 5 for her role in the death of Jasmine Simuel, 33, in Druid Heights over a year ago.
Simuel was pronounced dead on the 2700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue after law enforcement responded to the shooting scene on the evening of Sept. 22, 2024. Collins was arrested several days later.
Sentencing proceeded before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong, with defense attorney Ben Baker representing Collins. Collins was convicted by a panel of jurors last November, on one count of murder and two gun charges.. Though Collins was initially charged with first-degree murder, the charge was downgraded to second-degree.
The prosecution characterized the shooting that led to Simuel’s death as a “cold hearted killing,” arguing that even though Simuel was “clearly under the influence,” Collins still intentionally “retrieved a firearm to fire at her on Pennsylvania Avenue.” Simuel was reportedly pregnant at the time of her death.
The state also cited a prior second-degree assault conviction that Collins sustained in July 2024, after firing a black revolver three times at a McDonald’s restaurant during a dispute over a food order. Collins’ repeated involvement in gun-related violent crimes, said the state’s attorney, demonstrates a clear and “reckless disregard for human life.” The state urged Judge Hong to consider handing Collins a maximum sentence of 75 years.
Simuel’s father delivered an impact statement touching on his family loss. “Jasmine has a 4-year-old set of twins. My wife and I are now raising her children,” he told the court and Judge Hong.
To Collins, he extended repeated forgiveness, but stressed the weight of his daughter’s permanent loss.
“I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you,” he told Collins, “[But] she’s not coming back, my daughter. I would have liked to see that other child she was carrying.”
Baker pushed back against the state’s requested sentence, arguing that 75 years was “equivalent to a death sentence” and that “it would be kinder to give someone death.”
Baker asked that Collins be considered for parole after serving two-thirds of her sentence, and asked Judge Hong to suspend 30-to-40 years.
“Make her serve just 20 years to better herself while in prison,” Baker said. “Give her a chance to be a productive member of society one day.”
Before issuing the sentence, Judge Hong addressed the defendant, referencing her July 2024 assault conviction and describing the murder on Sept. 22, 2024
“Jasmine looked like she was under the influence, but she looked happy. And whatever you said to her caused her to walk away into the street,” Judge Hong told Collins. “You decided to go after her shooting a gun, and she just collapsed in the middle of the street and died.”
Judge Hong reprimanded Collins for the permanent damage she caused that night, emphasizing the loss of multiple lives.
“Her life ended, and you killed that baby and destroyed her twins,” Judge Hong told Collins. “You’re not gonna get out until you’re a senior citizen. You are a danger to society [and] you have ruined everyone’s life.”
Collins was sentenced to serve 65 years, starting from the date of her incarceration.
