Suspect sentenced to two life sentences for 2021 murder of BPD agent, second victim

By Ziqi Zhou
– June 4, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Elliot Marcus Knox, the 34-year-old man responsible for the deaths of Baltimore police officer Keona Holley, 39, and Justin Johnson, 38, on December 16, 2021, was sentenced on June 4 by the Baltimore Municipal Circuit. Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer.

The two cases were separated by 90 minutes and 11 miles. Holley's murder took place in the 4400 block of Pennington Avenue, and then Knox and his co-defendant, Travon Shaw, drove to the 600 block of Lucia Avenue, where they shot Johnson.

Knox was sentenced to two concurrent terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole for two counts of first-degree murder. Additionally, he was sentenced to 20 years consecutively, with the first five years without the possibility of parole, for using a firearm during a violent crime.

Knox was sentenced to a concurrent sentence of 15 years, with the first five years without the possibility of parole, for illegal possession of firearms. He was also convicted of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and having a handgun on his person, the sentences for which were merged with the other charges.

Those close to Holley described her as a devoted mother of four, and at the time of the incident, her eldest daughter was about to turn 18 and her youngest son was just 10 years old. Holley's sister said she would care for Holley's children and “fight until my last breath to see [Knox] suffer.”

Johnson's aunt described the heartbreaking moment when Justin's daughter realized she would never see her father again, and Justin's sister mentioned she would never understand what Knox had done.

The victims' families have all expressed their displeasure with Knox's lies during the trial and are saddened that they will not be able to see their loved ones again, saying that forgiving Knox will be the hardest thing because of the pain that he caused them. .

Defense attorney Natalie Finegar highlighted Knox's difficult upbringing in an abusive home and his imprisonment for theft at age 16. Knox later worked as a delivery driver to reintegrate into society, but was shot during childbirth, leading to a PTSD diagnosis.

In his statement to the court, Knox placed most of the blame on Shaw, saying he was innocent and coerced into participating.

State's Attorney Ivan Bates, in a statement released Tuesday, said the conviction demonstrated their commitment to zero tolerance for violence and asserted that “our office carefully reviewed and investigated on all information stated by Mr. Knox at his sentencing, and we have been unable to corroborate any of it. This sentence ensures that Mr. Knox will never be able to harm anyone in Baltimore again.

Shaw pleaded guilty to Holley's murder in March after a jury found him guilty of Johnson's murder. He was sentenced to life without parole for Johnson's murder and accepted an offer of life, suspended for all but 40 years, for Holley's death.

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