Frederick Teen Sentenced For 1st Degree Attempted Murder
Frederick – This morning, Frederick Circuit Court Judge Scott Rolle sentenced William James Sewell II, age 17, of Frederick to 30 years suspending all but 15 years in the Division of Corrections for Attempted 1st Degree Murder. Sewell pled guilty to the charge in a Circuit Court hearing October 28, 2019.
On April 3rd, 2019, at approximately 4:15 pm., Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the area of Magnolia Tree Court and Burning Bush Drive in Frederick for a call of “shots fired.” Upon arrival at the scene, a .380 shell casing was located in the parking lot outside of the 5700 block of Trailview Court in Mountain Village.
After reviewing surveillance video at the apartment complex, detectives determined that four males walking from vehicles and towards approximately six other males in the area of the 5700 block of Trailview Court. Mr. Sewell is seen on the surveillance recordings chasing after one of the males, shooting at him. At approximately 4:10pm, the first shot can be heard on the surveillance footage. Approximately 27 seconds later a second shot is heard—Mr. Sewell shot at the same victim again. Approximately 3 seconds later, Sewell’s co-defendant is seen on the recordings shooting at the same victim.
The defendant, William James Sewell II, was 16 years old when he committed the offense, and the co-defendant was Marquis Desade Scottland, 17, of Hagerstown, MD. After firing these three rounds, the suspects are observed running from the scene and entering both vehicles before fleeing the area.
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith reacted to the sentence, “This broad daylight shooting could have easily ended in tragedy. Bullets were flying through an apartment complex as people were going about their daily activities. This sentence sends a strong message that reckless acts of gun violence will be met with serious punishments.”
The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Wilt and Assistant State’s Attorney Lindsey Carpenter. Deputies and detectives with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation.
William James Sewell II
