Jerome Whitaker Brandon Green Dispo 11202008

OFFICE OF THE STATE’S ATTORNEY FOR BALTIMORE CITY 208 THE CLARENCE M. MITCHELL, JR. COURTHOUSE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21202 Patricia C. Jessamy State’s Attorney

Phone

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For Information Contact:

Margaret T. Burns Chief, Communications & Governmental Affairs Office (443) 984-1121 or Cell Phone (443) 474-7479 Or Joseph Sviatko, Deputy Division Chief Office (443) 984-1122 or Cell (410) 790-3248 PRESS RELEASE

JEROME WHITAKER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SECONDDEGREE MURDER; HANDGUN CRIME OF VIOLENCE BRANDON GREEN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT TO MURDER Christopher Clark, Patterson High School Honors Student, Caught in Shooting Crossfire Baltimore, MD – November 20, 2008 – At a hearing this afternoon Judge John C. Themelis sentenced Jerome Whitaker, 24, of the 3300 block of Ramona Ave. to 30 years suspend all but 25 years in prison for second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, the first five years without parole and three years probation. Judge Themelis sentenced Brandon Green, 23, of the 3300 block of Ramona Ave. to five years in prison for accessory after the fact to murder. The defendants pled guilty October 29, 2008. The victim’s family was invited to make victim impact statements to the court today but chose not to appear in court citing their preference to not see the men responsible for their family member’s death. On March 13, 2007 gunfire erupted in the 3100 block of Cliftmont Ave. and Christopher Clark, 18, was caught in the crossfire and sustained a gunshot wound to the torso. An unknown male appeared from an alley and fired a handgun at Antonio Santifer, who was standing on the sidewalk in front of his residence. Santifer returned fire and Clark, an innocent bystander who was stood nearby, was struck. Santifer was also struck.

Police recovered DNA evidence at the scene that was linked to Whitaker and Green. Medics transported Whitaker, Green, Santifer and Clark to Johns Hopkins Hospital. Clark died later that day. Antonio L. Santifer, 20, of the 3100 block of Cliftmont Ave. pled guilty November 14 to illegal possession of a handgun and was sentenced to three years in prison. Assistant State’s Attorney Richard Gibson, of the Homicide Division, prosecuted this case. ###