Friday, July 23, 2010

Baltimore, MD: Man pleads guilty to murder charge after opening statements

Defendant shot man in head after altercation with girlfriend's daughter, girl's boyfriend

By Brent Jones, The Baltimore Sun

7:21 AM EDT, July 23, 2010

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A 37-year-old Baltimore man reversed course and pled guilty earlier this week to a first-degree murder charge after prosecutors presented opening statements during his jury trial, according to the city State's Attorney's Office.

Demetry "Frank" Jenkins of the 1700 block of N. Washington Ave. confessed to fatally shooting a man in the head in February 2009 after an altercation in the defendant's home involving his girlfriend's daughter and her boyfriend, prosecutors said.

Police found Demetrius Saulsbury, 22, lying on the sidewalk in front of Jenkins' house at about 3 a.m. Feb. 4, suffering from the gunshot wound. Saulsbury had been visiting his girlfriend, who is Jenkins' girlfriend's daughter.

Authorities say Jenkins became enraged when he discovered Saulsbury at the home so late and demanded that he leave. While Saulsbury waited for a cab inside the home, police say Jenkins started to yell that he was the man of the house and that no one respects him, sparking an argument with his girlfriend's daughter.

As the cab arrived a few minutes later, Saulsbury was heading out of the front door when police say Jenkins said to his girlfriend's daughter, "You're gonna respect me now," before pulling out a gun and shooting Saulsbury.

According to the plea deal, family members at the scene of the incident that night asked Jenkins what he was doing, to which he responded, "That's what I do." Jenkins then fled to North Carolina, where he was arrested 13 days later.

Jenkins could face up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 2 by Baltimore Circuit Court Judge John N. Prevas.

He is being held without bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

brent.jones@baltsun.com

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