The stray-bullet killing of a Middle River grandmother is prompting a push for legislative change.
State Del. Patrick McDonough, a friend who lives “50 feet” from the home of victim Shirley Worcester, said his neighborhood is outraged by her death — and laws on loitering and mandatory sentencing need to be changed to prevent other innocent people from falling prey to the drug war’s violence.
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“The criminal element understands they’re living in a Nirvana here in Maryland,” McDonough said. “It’s getting worse, not getting better.”
Warren Yates, 26, who is charged with first-degree murder in Worcester’s death, has a seven-year history of arrests, including convictions for felony theft, drug possession, unauthorized use of property, and making a false statement to police.
“To me, Shirley Worcester became a victim of the system,” McDonough said. “Shirley is a symbol that people can identify with.”
McDonough said he wants Baltimore County to enact an anti-residential loitering law — like Baltimore City has — and the state to get tougher mandatory sentencing laws, which he said he’ll push for this legislative session. He said he also plans to push for a task force to study the “revolving door criminal justice system” in Maryland and recommend solutions.
He said he blames defense attorneys in the general assembly for passing “criminal-friendly” laws that allow for suspended sentences and early releases from prison.
“The General Assembly is infested with criminal advocates,” he said.
Worcester was shot as she talked to family members in front of her home in the unit block of Whitethorn Way, police said.
According to investigators, Worcester, who has 17 grandchildren, was killed as the result of a drug deal gone wrong between Yates and another man.
Detectives determined that on the night of the killing, the purchaser had arranged to buy four gallon-sized bags of marijuana from Yates worth more than $4,000, according to police. The drugs were purchased with a roll of money that had a $100 bill on the outside and $1 bills or fake money inside, police said.
The buyer tried to run from the scene but, police said, Yates chased the other man and fired two shots at him. The shots missed the buyer and struck Worcester, who was standing on the sidewalk nearby, police said.
Two other men present at the drug deal are in custody facing drug charges. The purchaser also has been arrested and will be charged with drug offenses, police said.
“There are a lot of Shirley Worcesters,” McDonough said. “She happens to be my friend and my neighbor, but there are a lot of them.”
