DIGEST

The Baltimore Sun

Annapolis teen gets 25 years in shooting deaths of 2 men

An Annapolis teenager was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison for killing two men over apparent slights to other people.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Michele D. Jaklitsch said she was appalled that Rondell Anthony Medley, 19, of the 1800 block of Bowman Court was brazen enough to fatally shoot his second victim less than one month after the first.

Medley did not speak in court, but he pleaded guilty in March to second-degree murder in the death of Tarrod Wallace, 24, of the 500 block of Annapolitan Lane and entered an Alford plea to manslaughter in the killing of Eddie Jenkins, 45. An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, but an acknowledgement that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict a defendant.

Defense attorney William Brennan portrayed Medley as a boy who grew up without a father and moved to the wrong neighborhood with the wrong friends.

"He didn't have the skills, he didn't have the mental function ... to adapt to a new environment," Brennan said.

Medley was 16 on Jan. 7, 2005, when he shot Wallace, who owed $350 to an acquaintance Medley looked up to. He shot Jenkins, of the 1100 block of Madison St., on Feb. 2 after hearing a rumor that Jenkins had set up the burglary of a neighborhood drug dealer.

"This was retribution for other people, not for wrongs done to him," said Assistant State's Attorney Kimberly DiPietro.

Jaklitsch imposed a term of 40 years in prison, with 15 years suspended, followed by five years of probation. The judge said she would recommend Medley for a program for young offenders.

Sharahn D. Boykin

Baltimore

: I-95

Accident closes southbound lanes

A small car collided with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 yesterday, leaving the car's driver with serious injuries and causing a shutdown of southbound lanes through South Baltimore.

Cpl. Jonathan Green, a spokesman for the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, said the accident occurred about 8:30 a.m.

A Baltimore-area woman, 27, was driving a Toyota Echo when she apparently lost control and was broadsided by the truck, Green said. He said the truck's front axle came to rest on the car, trapping the woman for several minutes.

Green said the woman was freed by firefighters and taken by ambulance to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where she was in serious condition after hours of surgery.

The truck driver was unhurt.

Green said the accident forced authorities to shut down all southbound lanes just before the Caton Avenue exit to complete the investigation and clear debris from the highway. He said all four lanes of I-95 were reopened about 11 a.m.

Gus G. Sentementes

Northeast

Child falls through skylight at school

An 11-year-old boy was injured yesterday after falling through a skylight in the roof of a Northeast Baltimore school and landing on an auditorium floor 30 feet below, a city Fire Department spokesman said.

About 4:30 p.m., the boy, whose name was not released, was playing with other children outside Coldstream Elemen- tary/ Middle School in the 1400 block of Exeter Hall Ave. near Loch Raven Boulevard when a ball landed on the roof, said Chief Kevin Cartwright, the spokesman.

Cartwright said the boy climbed onto the roof and was looking for the ball when he fell through the skylight. He said that when firefighters and medics arrived on the scene, the boy complained of arm, neck and back pain.

Cartwright said the boy was taken by ambulance to the trauma unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital. His condition was not available.

Richard Irwin

Carroll County

: Smallwood

Mailbox explosive under investigation

The state fire marshall's office is investigating an explosive device that destroyed a mailbox near the Smallwood area of Westminster late Sunday night, authorities said yesterday.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Bruce Bouch said the device had the power of an M80, or a quarter-stick of dynamite. The device was also destroyed, making it impossible to identify, he said.

The homeowner, Vicky Fitzgerald of Christy Drive, heard an explosion shortly before 11 p.m. but did not know what it was until a neighbor came over and told her, Bouch said.

Bouch said the incident seemed to be a "random thing."

Anyone with information is asked to call 410-552-0154.

Ellie Baublitz

Hampstead

Panther Road closing scheduled

The northernmost 2,000 feet of Panther Drive, from Dakota Road to Route 482 in Hampstead, will be closed for paving. Work will be done from 6 p.m. today to 6 a.m. tomorrow. Information: 410-239-7408.

Cecil County

: Elk River

Police investigate watercraft fatality

Maryland Natural Resources Police are continuing the investigation into a boat accident on the Elk River in Cecil County that killed a Philadelphia woman Saturday.

Kristy Lynn Szewczak, 21, a passenger on a personal watercraft, died at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del., after a collision with a 42-foot powerboat, police said. The accident occurred near Town Point shortly after 4 p.m. Christopher J. Leight Jr., 30, of Warminster, Pa., who was operating the watercraft, was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he remained in critical condition yesterday.

The boat operator, Mark D. Rosati, 51, of Mount Laurel, N.J., and five passengers were unhurt.

Mary Gail Hare

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