Officer Amy Caprio Murder: 2 Teens Sentenced

TOWSON, MD — Two teens were sentenced Monday in the death of Officer Amy Caprio. They received the same sentence after pleading guilty to murder.

Derrick Eugene Matthews, 17, of the 200 block of South Dallas Court in Baltimore, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday, Sept. 16, according to WMAR, which reported Judge Jan Marshall Alexander gave him life with all but 30 years suspended.

Eugene Robert Genius, 19, of the 400 block of North Lakewood Road in Baltimore, was also sentenced to life with all but 30 years suspended, WBAL reported.

Matthews and Genius were burglarizing homes in Perry Hall while their accomplice ran over and killed Caprio on May 21, 2018, police said. They stole a handgun, bag of Cheetos and other items, their indictments said, as Caprio was called to the area for suspicious activity in the neighborhood.

If a person dies while an individual is committing a burglary, that individual may be charged with murder, Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger said after the indictments were handed down by a grand jury in May 2018.

The medical examiner ruled Caprio's death homicide as the result of traumatic injuries.

Dawnta Harris, 17, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in August for murdering Caprio. He hit her with a stolen Jeep and kept going.

His three accomplices entered plea agreements admitting to murder in exchange for the state agreeing to a 30-year sentence and dropping other charges like burglary. They pleaded guilty June 3 after a jury convicted Harris of murder, burglary and theft at trial in May.

Darrell Jaymar Ward, 16, of the 2300 block of Ashland Avenue in Baltimore, is the last teen who will be sentenced in the case. He was originally supposed to appear Monday, Sept. 16, along with Matthews and Genius in Baltimore County Circuit Court, but his sentencing date was reportedly postponed.

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