Homicide defendant rejects plea offer

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A 25-year-old homicide defendant rejected a plea offer before Baltimore City Circuit Judge Melissa K. Copeland on June 28.

Tanare Williams, 25, was charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a violent crime and carrying a handgun in connection with an incident on Jan. 4. Williams was represented by defense attorney John Cox.

The prosecutor offered Williams a suspended life sentence, except 50 years for first-degree murder and 20 years in prison concurrently, the first five years without the possibility of parole, for using a firearm in a violent crime. The agreement also called for Williams to serve five years of supervised probation and be registered as an armed offender upon his release. Williams rejected the deal.

According to a news release from the Baltimore Police Department, investigators believe Williams shot and killed Antoine Johnson, 31, during a fight in the North Eutaw Street apartment block. Authorities arrested Williams on January 22. The five-day trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 8 before Judge Jeffrey M. Geller.

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