Woman Takes Plea of Time Served After ‘Uncooperative Witnesses’

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A 20-year-old woman accused of attempted murder accepted a plea of time served on May 19 due to uncooperative witnesses on behalf of the prosecution.

Kyashia Walker was facing multiple attempted murder, assault, and reckless endangerment charges, as well as and four weapons charges for a shooting that injured three people, including herself, on May 11, 2021.

During Thursday’s proceedings before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John S. Nugent, the prosecution offered Walker a plea of three years, suspending all but time served, and three years of probation for having a handgun on her person.

The defendant has been incarcerated since May 12, 2021, and must also register as a gun offender under the plea.

Judge Nugent questioned the prosecution’s decision to not try the case to which the prosecutor responded that neither of the two victims, one of whom was another alleged shooter, would speak about the incident and “none of the witnesses have been cooperative.”

Defense attorney Martin Cohen noted that Walker should not have had a handgun on her person, but that a witness was willing to testify that the defendant only exchanged fire to “defend people” nearby. 

The judge agreed to the terms of the plea, which Walker then accepted.

Cohen informed the court that the shooting occurred just north of the University of Maryland Medical Center on the 800 block of W. Lexington Street, where Walker and a 20-year-old man were fighting. Video surveillance footage showed the man pull out a handgun and begin firing, and Walker returned fire.

Walker, the other alleged shooter, and another victim were shot during the incident. The second shooter ran from the scene, while Walker and the second victim went to the hospital for treatment. 

Although facing weapons charges, the man is not charged with discharging a firearm, according to the Maryland Judiciary website.