LITTLESTOWN MAN TO SERVE 5 YEARS WITHOUT PAROLE ELIGIBILITY IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT AND USE OF A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT CRIME

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

LITTLESTOWN MAN TO SERVE 5 YEARS WITHOUT PAROLE ELIGIBILITY IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT AND USE OF A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT CRIME

 

 

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Judge Scott Rolle sentenced 30-year-old Bryant A. Paradine, of Littlestown, PA, to 25 years in the Division of Corrections suspending 20 years with 5 years to serve for First-Degree Assault and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Violent Crime after the Defendant pleaded guilty.  The Defendant is not eligible for parole consideration as part of the plea agreement and will be required to serve the entire 5 years in prison.

On August 14, 2024, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Maryland State Police responded to a call for a shooting near Route 15 SB/Tippin Drive.  The 911 caller reported that a man shot a firearm from his driver’s side window at another motorist passing him before exiting U.S. 15 onto Tippin Drive.  The victim of the shooting also called police to report that he had been shot at.  Police recovered one projectile from the victim’s vehicle.  Both the witness and the victim described the Defendant’s vehicle as an early 2000’s red/maroon chevy Tahoe with PA registration and the operator as a white male with a beard.  Thurmont Police surveillance cameras picked up the Defendant’s SUV at 7:27am turning onto Frederick Road and vehicle registration information confirmed the Defendant’s identity as Bryant Paradine.  Troopers located and interviewed Paradine at his nearby place of employment where he admitted to being involved in the road rage incident and firing a round at the other motorist.  Paradine was placed under arrest and his vehicle was searched.  Troopers recovered a Canik 9 mm handgun with a loaded magazine as well as one spent 9 mm casing from his vehicle.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “Road rage is a real danger to our community.  While many of these cases are first-time offenders, they present too great of a public safety risk to not put them in prison.  We must send a message that if you are willing to jeopardize someone’s life, the repercussions will change your life forever.”

The victim, who was in agreement with the sentence, addressed the court stating, “He was tailgating me, cut me off, brake checked me, pulled out a gun and pulled the trigger.  Why did he think he had the right to decide that my family would never see me again and make my wife a widow?”

Upon release from the Division of Corrections, the Defendant will serve 3 years on supervised probation with all standard conditions, including anger management classes.  The firearm and ammunition were ordered forfeited as part of the sentence and the Defendant is prohibited from owning a firearm for the rest of his life.

The investigation was handled by the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division with assistance from the Thurmont Police Department.  Chief, Violent Crimes Unit, Ricky Lewis, represented the State of Maryland.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland 21701

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