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Anthony Priester was sentenced to life plus 85 years in prison, with the first 15 years ineligible for parole after being found guilty of the July murder of Cameron Green and the non-fatal shooting of another man.
Specifically, Priester was convicted of:
- First-degree murder;
- Murder in the first degree by conspiracy resulting in death;
- Two counts of use of a firearm in a crime of violence or felony;
- Attempted second-degree murder;
- Conspiracy to commit murder;
- Illegal possession of a regulated firearm;
- Wear, carry, and transport of a handgun;
- Transporting a handgun in a vehicle.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on March 26, 2021, in the 1100 block of Washington Boulevard in the Pigtown neighborhood, members of the Baltimore Police Department found Green with multiple gunshot wounds inside Bella Roma Pizza, and he was pronounced dead minutes later at the scene.
A second victim, whose name has not been released, was found outside the pizzeria suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the leg and buttocks and he was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said that the crime scene consisted of a total of 63 shell casings, multiple projectiles, bullet fragments, suspected blood, two cell phones, suspected CDS, and a laser scope.
The investigation determined that Green and the second victim were standing inside Bella Roma Pizza at the counter when a gray Honda Accord parked in front of the West Cross Street restaurant and five masked gunmen exited the vehicle and opened fire.
All five then ran back into the Honda and fled east on West Cross Street, according to prosecutors.
When homicide detectives and SWAT executed a search and seizure at Priester’s home on April 1, 2021, he attempted to flee with an unnamed woman before crashing near the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Birchwood Avenue.
While detectives were apprehending Priester, a second call came from a woman in the 4100 block of Moravia Road who found a black handgun outside her home along the round he had fled from investigators.
Units responded to the area and recovered a black Beretta 9mm handgun with an extended magazine containing 23 rounds with one round in the chamber that matched the casings found at the scene.
“This hefty sentence is a testament to the severity of Mr. Priester's violent actions and total disregard for human life,” Mosby said. “Our residents, our streets, our businesses, and our homes should never be subjected to gunfire and mayhem. I am thankful for the outcome of this case and I hope it provides some closure for the victims and their families.”
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