In Baltimore City
Man is sentenced to 3 life sentences for triple homicide
A Baltimore man was handed three consecutive life sentences plus 50 years in prison yesterday for a February 2001 triple homicide in Waverly that also left one man paralyzed, the state's attorney's office announced.
Wayne Mitchell, 24, was convicted in September in Baltimore Circuit Court in the shooting deaths of Tony Blizzard Jr., 18, Jamal Fisher, 18, and Donte Weddington, 25. Another man, Timothy James, 18, was paralyzed.
Mitchell was found guilty on charges including first-degree murder, second- degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, said Assistant State's Attorney Paul Budlow, who prosecuted the case.
Mitchell's co-defendant, Otis Edwards, 27, will be sentenced today by Judge M. Brooke Murdock.
Jury acquits defendant in gang-rape case
A 24-year-old man was acquitted of rape charges by a Baltimore jury last night after a three-day trial in which a mentally retarded woman testified that she was forced to have sex with three men, including her mentally retarded boyfriend.
The jury found that Dion Williams did not assault the woman in a Northwest Baltimore apartment in October last year. The woman testified last week that she could not remember what her attacker looked like or identify him in the courtroom.
DNA evidence did not link Williams to the crime. The prosecution said the DNA evidence may have been unreliable because of the multiple incidents. The defense said the woman was lying.
Youth arrested in shooting of 3 children with BB pistol
A 14-year-old Robert Poole Middle School pupil was arrested yesterday after he allegedly opened fire with a BB pistol from the window of an Maryland Transit Administration bus, hitting three children as they stood outside St. Thomas Aquinas School, city police reported.
About 3 p.m., a boy pulled down a window and fired at least three shots as the bus pulled away near the parochial school in the 3700 block of Roland Ave., police said. The driver stopped immediately, and the youth was arrested and charged as a juvenile with three counts of aggravated assault, police said.
The victims -- a 13-year-old girl hit in the back, a 12-year-old boy hit in the leg and a 12-year- old girl hit in the lip -- declined medical attention, police said.
In Baltimore County
Man accused of killing wife is held without bail
TOWSON -- A 36-year-old Catonsville man accused of fatally stabbing and beating his wife last week was being held without bail yesterday at the Baltimore County Detention Center.
Laurie Denise Alexander, 35, of the 300 block of Sunshine Place was killed Nov. 13 in what police described as a violent struggle with her husband, Rodney James Alexander. He later called 911, saying he had had a fight with his wife and an accident had occurred, police said.
Rodney Alexander, who was injured in the struggle, was released from Maryland Shock Trauma Center Monday and charged with first-degree murder, police said.
Girl, 17, missing from library returns home on her own
PARKVILLE -- A 17-year-old girl who disappeared from a library in Arbutus on Friday returned to her family yesterday on her own, police said.
Rachel Ruth Diller of the 2400 block of Woodcroft Road in Parkville was reported missing by relatives who thought she might have been in the company of an older man. Her mother took her to a local hospital yesterday morning to be evaluated, police said.
It remained unclear whether foul play was involved. "It was a long and difficult weekend for the young lady," said Bill Toohey, a county police spokesman. "There are some details of her account that we're trying to sort out."
Free screenings offered for macular degeneration
TOWSON -- The National Retina Institute in Towson will offer free screenings today and every Wednesday through Dec. 18 for age-related macular degeneration.
The screening, for those age 55 and older, will be available from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 901 Dulaney Valley Road, No. 200. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 877-337-4500.
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss as people age. Symptoms include blind spots, blurring, distortion or wavy lines.
3 senior centers serving dinner Thanksgiving Day
TOWSON -- Three senior centers in Baltimore County will serve holiday meals Thanksgiving Day.
They are Essex Senior Center, 600 Dorsey Ave., 410-887-0267; Parkville Senior Center, 8601 Harford Road, 410-887-5338; and Pikesville Senior Center, 1301 Reisterstown Road, 410-887- 1245. Each center will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with dinner served at 12:30 p.m.
Guests younger than age 60 must pay the full price of $3.36. County residents age 60 and older will be asked for a donation. Reservations are required and can be made by calling one of the centers.
