BALTIMORE — On Thursday, a violent carjacker was sentenced to life plus 65 years for attempted murder of a Baltimore woman.
In July, King was convicted of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed carjacking, armed robbery, use of a firearm in a crime of violence among other charges for a carjacking and attack that took place in the Highlandtown community in the spring of 2018.
“Roderick King’s lengthy prison sentence is justified and appropriate," commented Assistant State’s Attorney Matt Pillion, who prosecuted this case. “King is a BGF gang member who has repeatedly hurt people and ignored our laws. When he chose to attack Ms. Woodyard, he impacted her life forever. Justice demands as a consequence that he should live with his choices forever too. I hope his sentence brings some measure of healing and closure for Ms. Woodyard, her family, and for the families who live and work in Highlandtown.”
According to the State Attorney's office, in April 2018, shortly before 1:30 AM, the victim was leaving her job at a local pizza shop in the 400 block of S. Conkling Street. When she reached her car, Roderick King and a female approached her and flashed a handgun before demanding her purse and keys.
When the victim tried to escape from her car a struggle ensued between her and King. King’s female accomplice entered the rear driver’s side seat when King jumped into the driver’s seat and pistol-whipped the victim. The victim was able to roll out of the car; but, as she tried to rise from the ground, King shot her at close range in the head.
The victim, still conscious, ran across the street to another restaurant where a family member was working. There, at the restaurant, the victim collapsed. Medics soon arrived and took the victim to Johns Hopkins Hospital for treatment.
Later in the day, a homeowner in Rosedale reported a blood splattered car abandoned in front of her house. After running the tag, Baltimore County authorities identified it as the victims car. Police were able to obtain surveillance video from local businesses near the crime scene that captured footage of the attack.
Footage showed that King and his female associate walked along Eastern Avenue eastbound before reaching Conkling Street. The pair then turned north onto Conkling, attacked the victim, and then fled in the victim’s car toward Pulaski Highway.
Several days later, the victim was able to identify the defendants through images that she discovered on social media. Detectives collaborated with U.S. Marshals, and eventually located the duo in South Carolina where they fled and stayed with a relative.
