Baltimore man pleads guilty in 2 unrelated Anne Arundel killings

A Baltimore man pleaded guilty Thursday in two unrelated Anne Arundel County murders in June 2024.

Deondre Tywon Sharps, 20, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of 34-year-old Keion Damont McKinney and 34-year-old Joshua Ray Holland.

Sharps was arrested in Baltimore on July 6, 2024, for operating a stolen vehicle, the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s office said in a statement. Police found a handgun that testing indicated “was consistent with” the one used to kill McKinney.

McKinney was found dead in the 1600 block of Meade Village Circle in Severn on June 14, 2024. Police found surveillance footage that showed a man shooting McKinney once and then walking toward a black SUV with a gun in his hand.

Detectives learned about an Instagram account belonging to “Deandre Sharps” that touted being available for murder for hire. Police learned the murder was targeted and Sharps expected to receive payment and marijuana for the killing, the state’s attorney’s office said.

On June 29, 2024, police responded to Governor Ritchie Highway in Brooklyn Park and found Holland’s body, which had been dumped from a vehicle, at an intersection. He had multiple gunshot wounds.

On July 11, 2024, investigators were told that fingerprints on Holland’s vehicle matched Sharps’.

In a statement, Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said she was glad Sharps is being held accountable.

“My heart goes out to the families of Mr. McKinney and Mr. Holland on the tragic loss of their loved ones,” she said.

Sentencing for Sharps in both cases is scheduled for Jan. 25.