Christopher Peacock, 34, has been ordered to serve 12 years in prison after a Baltimore judge on May 8 handed down a 25-year sentence, suspending all but 12 years and adding four years of supervised probation. The decision follows a March jury verdict that cleared him of attempted murder but convicted him of first-degree assault and several firearm offenses, wrapping up a closely watched trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court.
What Happened Inside the Fells Point Apartment
Testimony at trial described a tense scene inside a Fells Point apartment on June 20, 2025, where a gathering turned volatile after an argument broke out. Witnesses said Peacock pointed a handgun at a man’s head. Prosecutors told jurors the weapon initially failed to fire and its magazine fell to the floor. Peacock then reinserted the magazine and fired a shot into the floor, sending partygoers scrambling out of the unit. No one was injured. Investigators later recovered two .22-caliber cartridges and drug residue inside the apartment, according to Baltimore Witness.
Verdict, Requests and Sentence
On March 9, a jury found Peacock not guilty of attempted murder but convicted him of first-degree assault and multiple firearm charges, leaving sentencing to Judge Alan C. Lazerow. Prosecutors urged the judge to hit the top of the guidelines, asking for 25 years with all but 15 suspended and five years of supervised probation, arguing that the incident and the trial were “traumatic” for the victim.
Defense attorney Augustine Okeke countered that witnesses did not portray the victim as being in immediate danger and emphasized Peacock’s lack of prior criminal history. Peacock told the court that his mother is battling end-stage cancer and said, “The year I spent [incarcerated already] was enough,” according to Baltimore Witness. Judge Lazerow presided over the hearing, as listed in the Maryland Manual Online.
Evidence and Legal Notes
Court reporting indicates that investigators later recovered a black Firefly GSG .22-caliber handgun from a vehicle tied to Peacock, along with several live rounds and a rolled dollar bill with drug residue. During sentencing arguments, the defense again highlighted Peacock’s clean record, while prosecutors pointed to the ammunition and the shot fired after the misfire as reasons for a stiffer penalty.
The outcome underscores how Maryland juries and judges can see intent differently, with jurors acquitting on attempted murder but still convicting on assault and firearm use. With credit for time already served, Peacock will be required to complete the remaining 12 years in prison, followed by supervised probation. The May 8 ruling closes another chapter in what has been a spring crowded with shooting cases in Baltimore courts.
