Man shot by cops dies; has murder conviction
Just learned that the man shot by police in Brooklyn Monday afternoon died overnight at Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Police identified him as Michael S. Guest, 32, of West Baltimore, and a quick check of court records reveals that he's a convicted murderer.
We're still trying to find detailed court records; the dates we have at the moment are confusing, but it appears the slaying occurred in 1993 and he was convicted in 2000 of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with four years suspended, and he later violated his probation. He also has a drug convction in from 2000 for which he was senteced to eight years in prison.
And looking back to this past Friday, a man who police shot while holding up a Hampden liquor store also had a previous convction, for attempted armed robbery, and got a suspended three-year sentence.
All this adds up to more frustration for Baltimore's police commissioner, Frederick H. Bealefeld III, who is complaining now more than ever about bad guys with guns and how they remain free on city streets.
Comments
How do you get convicted for armed robbery and then only get a suspended sentence?
Violent offenders need to be locked up , nit receive suspended sentence. That judge should be disbarred.
Jay, we've been looking into a story on this. Law enforcement officials on the police and the prosecution side agree that robbery cases fall apart far too often. Prosecutors say the cases are badly investigated and sometimes a plea deal or a suspended sentence is the best they can get without dropping the case altogether. They've been pushing police to sign on to a new working agreement to improve cases. -Justin
Posted by: jay | December 15, 2009 10:06 AM
Please report more information about the judges who are rendering the lenient sentences for these repeat offenders. The public has a right to know who is responsible for putting these violent criminals back on the streets too soon.
Posted by: Justice Not Served | December 16, 2009 10:30 AM