Man gets life for killing Marine
Here is the moving opening of a story by Justin Fenton, The Sun's crime reporter, in January of last year:
"In Lennice Hudson's home, a refuge for foster children, Darius Ray found stability.
He became a track star at his Gaithersburg high school, graduated, flirted with college and ultimately joined the Marines. Between his foster brothers and sisters and Hudson's two biological children, he had a family, one he would join every week for dinner. On Sunday, the family was planning to celebrate his 20th birthday.
"I love you and I want a red velvet cake," he texted Hudson in anticipation.
But Ray would not make it to his own celebration. He was fatally stabbed in Northeast Baltimore the day before at a party thrown by friends."
A Baltimore Circuit Court judge on Thursday sentenced Michael Wiggins to life in prison for killing Ray for asking him to leave the party. He was one of three active or current members of the armed services killed in Baltimore in two months.
Read Justin's story on Darius Ray.
More details from a statement issued by the Baltimore State's Attorney's Office:
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Marcus Z. Shar sentenced Michael Wiggins today to life in prison for murdering a United States Marine at birthday party for the victim.
After being asked to leave the party for Marine Corps Private Darius Ray on January 23, 2010, Wiggins returned with two knives and stabbed Ray, killing the 20-year-old. In October 2011, a Baltimore jury convicted Wiggins of first-degree murder, first-degree assault and other counts.
Two other men involved in an altercation that night, but not the stabbing, have been convicted as well. Vernon Beverly pled guilty to first-degree assault and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 18 of those years suspended. Nicholas Woodward pled guilty to second-degree assault and is scheduled for sentencing on February 14, 2012.
“While I am gratified by the conviction and life sentence, I continue to mourn the loss of a young man who was dedicating his life to our nation and the protection of others. I hope this outcome can help Private Ray’s loved ones achieve a sense of closure,” State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein said
Categories: Courts and the justice system, Northeast Baltimore
