Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Vietnam Veteran Murder

Michael Hunter, 20, was sentenced to life in prison with all but 50 years suspended on Wednesday for killing a 72-year-old Vietnam veteran, the Baltimore City state’s attorney’s office announced.

Hunter shot and killed Charles Bowman during a robbery of Yau Bros. Chinese Carryout in April 2010. Bowman, who worked as a security guard at the Afro American Newspaper in Charles Village, routinely bought his dinner at the carryout, according to a news release.

A jury convicted Hunter of first-degree murder, three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a crime and armed robbery in September. 

Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill also sentenced Hunter to 70 years on top of the life sentence, with all but 20 years suspended. 

Troy Taylor, Hunter’s accomplice, pleaded guilty in March to first-degree murder, the use of a handgun in the commission of a crime and armed robbery. Taylor, 19, was sentenced to life in prison with all but 35 years suspended, according to the news release.

The Yau Bros. Chinese Carryout was also the scene of a murder on Halloween night of this year. was shot and killed in the restaurant during a robbery. has been charged with the murder after police said he confessed to the crime.

Neighbors and politicians have pressured the owners of Yau Bros. Chinese Carryout in recent weeks to make the establishment safer or face a which could result in the business being closed for a year by the Baltimore City police.

Correction: The sentencing of Michael Hunter was incorrectly reported in an earlier version of this article.