Baltimore man gets life sentence for fatal shooting that was ‘unbelievable’ – Baltimore Sun

A Baltimore man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for what prosecutors describe as a spontaneous, senseless and cold-hearted murder in broad daylight last year.

District Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer sentenced Ricky Crenshaw on Thursday to life in prison plus 37 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Terence Avery Cheatham on March 21, 2023.

Cheatham, a 33-year-old father from Randallstown, was gunned down around 2:54 p.m. in the 2100 block of Edmondson Avenue in the Midtown-Edmondson neighborhood.

In May, a jury convicted Crenshaw, 47, of first-degree murder and four counts of weapons offenses, including using an extended magazine and possessing a gun without a serial number.

Assistant District Attorney Kurt Bjorklund said the only known connection between the men was a brief argument that occurred shortly before the shooting. He argued that Crenshaw killed Cheatham “for no reason whatsoever.” The prosecutor asked Schiffer to impose the maximum sentence allowed by law: life in prison plus 57 years.

In his description of the evidence from Crenshaw's three-day trial, Schiffer said the defendant made a “about-face” after an argument and “shot his prey over and over again.”

“Violent crimes like this simply cannot be tolerated,” said Schiffer. “This level of senseless violence is incomprehensible.”

In court Thursday, Cheatham's family members described him as a loving father, head of the household, son, brother and cousin. Many tried to express their loss through tears. Several relatives said they had forgiven Crenshaw, but also called for a long prison sentence.

“In the face of unimaginable pain, I choose mercy,” said Terence Williams, Cheatham's father. Moments later, he asked Schiffer to impose the maximum sentence.

Crenshaw took the opportunity to address Schiffer, saying authorities had pinned Cheatham's killing on the wrong person while expressing condolences to the family.

His attorney, Brandon Patterson, asked Schiffer to impose a life sentence with all but 30 years suspended, pointing out that his client would be a “retiree” upon his release from prison.

According to charging documents, Baltimore police officers found Cheatham lying on the ground next to a Chevy Equinox. He had been shot multiple times, and city fire department paramedics took him to the University of Maryland's shock trauma unit, where he died about 40 minutes after the gunshot wound.

According to the indictment, forensic investigators collected five shell casings and a bullet fragment from the scene while investigators spoke with witnesses. One person recorded the brief argument between Cheatham and Crenshaw on their cellphone. The witness' video also captured the shooting and showed the shooter getting into a dark green Lincoln Town Car – a crucial lead.

Investigators searched license plate readers in the area and found one that recorded the suspect's Lincoln, which was registered to Crenshaw, according to the indictment.

Police arrested Crenshaw during a traffic stop the day after the shooting and searched his car. Charging documents say officers found a Polymer80 pistol with a loaded magazine containing 17 9mm rounds. Any magazine containing more than 10 rounds is considered a “high-capacity magazine” under Maryland law and cannot be possessed or used in a crime.

At the time of his arrest, Crenshaw was wearing a gold watch, a gold pinky ring and black sweatpants with white stripes, investigators wrote in charging documents. “When Mr. Crenshaw was shown a still photograph of the suspect wearing a gold watch with a gold pinky ring and the black pants with stripes down the side, he stated that the person in the photograph was not him.”

Crenshaw allegedly admitted that the gun was his. Firearms experts compared the cartridge cases fired from the gun during a test shot with the cartridge cases found at the scene of Cheatham's shooting and concluded that the cartridge cases had been fired from the same gun.

Bjorklund said Crenshaw has lived a “life of crime” since his 1999 conviction for second-degree assault. He pointed out that Crenshaw was prohibited from owning a firearm and referred to the firearm Crenshaw used in the murder as a “ghost gun.” The prosecutor urged Schiffer to make a statement with the sentence she chose and asked the judge to focus on deterrence and punishment, not rehabilitation, in sentencing.

Across the courtroom, Patterson asked for some degree of leniency, saying Crenshaw has nine children and four grandchildren and downplayed his criminal record as nonviolent. Patterson said he believes his client can be reformed behind bars.

“Mindsets change. Behaviors change. In this case, there is the possibility of rehabilitation,” the defense attorney said.

Before announcing the verdict, Schiffer praised the “extraordinary” testimony of Cheatham's relatives and described his 13-year-old son of the same name as brave for testifying in court.

Charlene Smith described the “painful void” left by her grandson's death. While she said Cheatham was “not perfect,” she insisted “he didn't deserve to be gunned down.”

“He had an infectious smile that could brighten the darkest day,” Smith recalled.

Holding framed pictures of her son, Yolanda Williams said she had lost her “baby,” her “heart,” her “protector” and her “provider.” When she received the news of his shooting death, Williams' “life shattered into a thousand pieces.” No matter how long the sentence imposed by Schiffer is, Williams added, the pain will not subside until “I see my son again.”

Terence Williams quoted from the Bible several times as he addressed the court by telephone, his voice recorded by a court microphone. He said he believed in the power of forgiveness and concluded his remarks with a prayer for everyone in the courtroom.

“I ask you to touch their hearts and souls, Lord,” Williams said.