A Baltimore court on Tuesday sentenced 19-year-old William Holloman to life in prison with all but 50 years suspended for the 2021 fatal shooting of Israeli visitor Efraim Gordon hy”d. The emotional sentencing hearing marked a somber conclusion to a case that deeply affected both the victim’s family and the Jewish community in Baltimore and beyond.
Holloman was convicted in July on charges of first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and gun offenses. Gordon, who was in northwest Baltimore for a cousin’s wedding, was fatally shot in the chest during an attempted robbery as he walked to his relatives’ home on Fords Lane.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn, who presided over the case, also recommended Holloman be sent to the Patuxent Youth Program. The sentence follows the guilty pleas of three other defendants — William Clinton, Omarion Anderson, and Rasheed Morris — who were also involved in the killing and admitted to first-degree murder.
During the trial, evidence revealed that the group of four had spent the evening driving in a stolen vehicle and committing armed robberies. Holloman, just 16 at the time, denied his involvement in Gordon’s death during a tearful statement in court.
“I still maintain my innocence. I did not kill this man,” Holloman said, addressing Gordon’s family while under heavy security.
The victim’s cousin, however, noted the reckless and dangerous nature of the group’s actions. “You’re going out together and embarking on a journey that can involve someone being murdered — that’s what your crime was,” Gordon’s cousin, Dovid Reyder, said in court.
Efraim Gordon’s family described him as a kind and life-loving individual. “It was very emotional, and our whole family reliving it. Justice was served,” Reyder told reporters.
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2 Responses
Starve him to death while in prison. Watch him painfully and slowly wither away. Let him feel physical pain.
WiseSage (obviously not:-)
In America we don’t allow “Cruel & Unusual punishment” & for good reason. You’re lucky (& should appreciate) to live in such a country.
I did a little research on Maryland & Prison. It’s complicated but from what I gathered MD considers a Life sentence (which is what he received) to be 100 years which based on the 25% rule he is not eligible for parole until he serves 25 years!
Most prisoners with crimes like he committed do not receive parole on the first time & often not at all.
There is time off for good behavior or taking classes but for crimes like his the “credits” accrue at a much slower pace than less/non violent criminals.
Also, with these serious crimes the Governor must sign off on parole which is usually a lot harder to get.
Suffice it to say (99%) he will be in prison for at the very least 30 years & most probably much longer. Imagine spending the prime of your life from 20-50 years old In a high security prison with all it’s horrors & misery.
I agree with the Gordon family who said, “Justice was done.”