Caught on tape by a police pole camera, three Baltimore men pleaded guilty Tuesday in the robbery and shooting of an apparent drug dealer, even though the dealer refused to show up for trial.
At a hearing in Baltimore City Circuit Court, Jerrod Kane, 21, pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder and a handgun charge, while Jonathan Kane, 21,admitted to two handgun charges and Jarrett Johnson, 22, said he was guilty of handgun, assault and robbery charges.
Judge Lynn Stewart sentenced Jerrod Kane to 15 years in prison and Jonathan Kane and Jarrett Johnson each to five years.
Shortly after 3 a.m. at Park Avenue and Mulberry Street on July 25, Jerrod Kane and Jarrett Johnson held up Aaron Maxwell, who was dealing drugs, and shot the dealer as he ran away, police said.
The entire scene was caught on a Baltimore Police Department pole camera, whose operator quickly called patrol officers. They caught the suspects as they fled the scene in a car.
The CITIWATCH surveillance camera showed Maxwell and Jarrett engaged in conversation and exchanging money, when Jerrod Kane exited a nearby vehicle and shot Maxwell in the back as he ran, prosecutors said. Maxwell survived the shooting.
Officers arrested the robbers and their getaway driver, Jonathan Kane, in the 500 block of North Fremont Avenue and seized .38-caliber and .44-caliber handguns from the vehicle, police said.
Maxwell did not appear for trial Tuesday, despite attempts by police detectives to locate him, prosecutors said.
The video was only evidence prosecutors said they had against the three men.
