D.C. man sentenced to life for 2024 deadly shooting outside Harbor East restaurant

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A Washington D.C. man was sentenced to life in prison Monday for the 2024 deadly shooting of a Baltimore man during an attempted robbery in Harbor East, according to the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office.

Defendant Quontay Spinks was given a life sentence for First-Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, First-Degree Assault, Attempted Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, and First-Degree Attempted Murder.

“I thank the court for handing down the maximum sentence under the plea agreement parameters for a Defendant who terrorized our residents, visitors, and ultimately took the life of Mr. Antonio Peoples,” State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates said in a press release. “While nothing can undo this loss, I hope this sentence brings the family a sense of justice and closure. I thank the Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Detectives and ASA Gallo for ensuring accountability after so much violence and tragedy.

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The shooting occurred on September 14, 2024, in the 700 block of Aliceanna Street, outside The Ruxton restaurant in Harbor East.

Investigators reported that the victim, 36-year-old Antonio Peoples, and his girlfriend were standing outside the restaurant when a dark-colored vehicle, later identified as a Toyota Camry, pulled up beside them.

Surveillance video reviewed by homicide detectives revealed several suspects exiting the vehicle and approaching the couple with their firearms drawn.

The suspects attempted to rob them of their necklaces and when Peoples resisted, gunfire erupted.

According to investigators, Peoples managed to disarm one of the suspects and returned fire while wounded on the ground.

Peoples was struck multiple times and rushed to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he later died. His girlfriend was grazed by a bullet and received treatment for her injuries.

Crime scene technicians recovered dozens of shell casings from various firearms, including 7.62mm cartridge casings, .40 caliber casings, and 9mm casings, along with fired projectiles and other evidence.

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Detectives utilized surveillance footage from before and after the shooting, along with ballistic and forensic evidence, to identify Spinks as a suspect.

Authorities also obtained digital and cellphone data that placed Spinks near the scene at the time of the shooting and indicated that he left the area afterward.

Spinks was located in Washington, D.C., on November 1, 2024, and taken into custody.

After being advised of his rights, investigators said Spinks confessed to attempting to rob Peoples of his necklace and to shooting him.

Spinks also admitted to involvement in several other violent incidents in Baltimore between September 12 and October 4, 2024.

Now, Spinks will spend the rest of his life in prison.