Davidsonville Driver Sentenced For Attempted Murder Of Teen

EDGEWATER, MD — A Davidsonville teen was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison for intentionally hitting an Edgewater teen with his car. Nicholas Kyle Hoffman, 18, of the 400 block of West Central Avenue in Davidsonville was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Stacy W. McCormack for attempted first-degree murder. The hit-and-run crash happened about 3 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2017, at Fairhill Drive and Londontown Road in Edgewater, according to Anne Arundel County Police.

Officers quickly located the suspect vehicle and detained the driver, Hoffman. The pedestrian who was hit — an Edgewater boy who was 16 years old at the time — was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center for possibly life-threatening injuries, officials say.

Anne Arundel County Police say that Hoffman intentionally struck the victim as he was walking along the road. Hoffman then fled the scene, but was stopped several blocks away from the incident. His vehicle sustained damage that was consistent with striking a pedestrian.

Two witnesses advised police that Hoffman intentionally ran into the victim. One of the witnesses was a passenger in the vehicle who was told by Hoffman to record the incident on his cellphone. The video showed Hoffman striking the victim, who was thrown up onto the car before falling into the roadway. Hoffman is then heard uttering a derisive comment indicating a lack of concern for the victim's welfare.

"This was one of the most callous displays of violence that I have witnessed in my 22 years as a prosecutor," said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams in a statement. "Hoffman laid bare his cruel intent to kill when he deliberately accelerated his vehicle towards a defenseless pedestrian, and memorialized this shocking incident on video."

Hoffman was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder on Aug. 23.

"Everything went so well, I couldn't ask for a better outcome," said the victim's mother. "My son is relieved that he doesn't have to worry about this anymore."

Maryland sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence between 10 to 18 years of active incarceration. Hoffman was sentenced to life in prison suspend all but 25 years of active incarceration.

Photo of Nicholas Hoffman, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police