Man sentenced to life for deadly shooting in Harbor East amid crime spree

A Washington, D.C., man was sentenced Monday to life in prison for a crime spree that included a deadly shooting in Harbor East during a botched robbery.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams described Quontay Spinks’ actions as heinous, highlighting the effect his choices have had on the victims and their family members.

“The defendant chose a course of conduct,” Williams said. “Chose to commit murder, robberies, assault.”

Williams then ordered Spinks, 20, to serve the maximum sentence allowed under a plea agreement for first-degree murder, carjacking, armed robbery and related crimes.

On Sept. 14, 2024, Spinks tried to rob Antonio Peoples and his girlfriend, Laquita Cook, as they waited for a valet to retrieve their car outside the Ruxton steakhouse on Aliceanna Street, prosecutors said. Spinks and several others tried to take the couple’s chain and necklace.

Peoples managed to disarm one of the attackers and fired at the group. But he was shot 10 times by at least one of his assailants. Cook was also grazed by a bullet.

Peoples, 36, was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Family members described him in court as a dedicated father who embodied love, strength and unity.

“Antonio was more than a victim in this case,” said his mother, Angela Peoples. “He was someone important.”

No sentence, she said, could bring back her son. But she said accountability and justice mattered.

For 22 days, Spinks wreaked havoc in Baltimore, Assistant State’s Attorney Megan Gallo said.

Most of the crimes occurred within 72 hours. Gallo detailed the crime spree, which included another shooting, two carjackings and four robberies.

Spinks, she said, demonstrated “absolutely no regard for human life.”

“We cannot ignore the fact that Mr. Spinks completely terrorized the city of Baltimore,” Gallo said.

Spinks apologized to the Peoples family, saying he took responsibility for his actions.

Matthew Connell, Spinks’ attorney, noted that his client’s family members are also devastated. He requested the minimum sentence allowed under the plea agreement: life in prison, suspending all but 60 years.

“He’s always been remorseful, from my perspective, your honor,” Connell said. “He understands that he’s harmed other people.”

At the time, Spinks was in 12th grade at KIPP DC College Preparatory and worked as a ride operator at Six Flags America. He was 18 when he committed the crimes, Connell said.

In prison, Spinks plans to continue his education and work, Connell said.

Connell said Spinks “essentially destroyed his own life.”