Darryl Doles was sentenced to Life, suspend all but 30 years, after guilty plea
Baltimore, MD (February 7, 2024) - Today, Darryl Doles was sentenced to Life, suspend all but 30 years, for the attempted murder of two Asian-American business owners, assault, and hate crime.
Doles pled guilty on September 18, 2023, to:
- Attempted First-Degree Murder (two counts) - Life, suspend all but 30 years, with five years probation upon release for each count, to run concurrently
- Hate Crime - 10 years to run concurrently
- Second-Degree Assault - 10 years to run concurrently
According to court documents, after being denied entry to an Asian-American business on May 2, 2021, because he refused to wear a required mask indoors, Doles returned to the business armed with a large piece of lumber and attacked the security guard who denied him entry. After the store’s owner disarmed and removed Doles from the store, the defendant went on a rampage by ransacking two other Asian-American-owned businesses and assaulting employees and owners. The defendant made clear his hateful motive in these attempted killings.
“This was an act of heinous violence, steeped in hatred and prejudice, against two business owners in our community," said State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates. "I want to thank the officers and commanders of the Central District for their thorough investigation and my Felony Division Team for delivering justice to these victims."
On May 2, 2021, at approximately 11:25 p.m., Doles entered Linden Discount Liquors at 904 West North Avenue to use the lottery machine. The store security guard asked Doles to put a face mask on due to COVID restrictions in the store. When Doles refused, the security guard asked him to leave the store. Doles grew angry, threw the lottery machine on the ground, kicked it across the store, and walked out of the store.
Approximately ten minutes later, Doles returned to the same store, claiming he left personal property there. The security guard again told Doles he must leave, so Doles left and returned with a 4-foot long 2”x4” piece of lumber, took a full swing, and struck the security guard on the right side of his body. The security guard suffered minor injuries, including a bruise to his elbow/wrist area and rib cage. The store owner approached and physically removed the piece of lumber from Doles’ grasp. Doles fled the location on foot. The lottery machine, valued at under $1,000, was rendered inoperable because of Doles’ actions.
Minutes later, at approximately 11:35 p.m., Doles entered 40/40 Liquors at 2139 Pennsylvania Avenue. Doles walked into the store, kicked a display window, knocking down wine bottles, and exited the store. The store owner exited the store and told Doles not to return. Doles turned around, said, “F--k Chinese!” and continued walking northwest.
Doles walked about a block northwest and entered Wonder Land Liquors at around 11:45 p.m. at 2045 Pennsylvania Avenue. Upon entering the store, Doles was observed repeatedly kicking the display window, knocking things over, and causing a disturbance. Doles repeatedly kicked the display window despite the store’s closure and the owner's insistence on him leaving the store. 911 was called, and the dispatch advised they would send an officer to the store.
About six to seven minutes after Doles left, the owner of Wonder Land Liquors went to the store's front door to close and lock it for the evening. As she began closing the door, Doles appeared with a piece of concrete, 1 to 2 inches thick and 8 to 9 inches square, in one hand. The owner saw the object and tried to grab it from Doles. The two locked arms and fell to the ground. Doles grabbed her by the hair and pushed her face to the ground. The owner tried to retrieve the block from Doles’ left hand, but he pulled it away while kneeling on top of her and struck her three times in the head with the concrete block.
The owner's sister rushed over to stop Doles, but Doles struck her once in the head with the block. Though injured, the owner ran over to aid her sister and removed Doles' mask. Doles then hit both women in the head repeatedly with the cement block. They managed to take the block away from him and pushed him out of the store. 911 was called again to report the attack. A BPD officer arrived on the scene immediately after midnight. He reviewed the surveillance video and detailed a description of Doles to BPD patrol units.
The owner's son arrived on the scene, reviewed the surveillance video, and then searched for Doles, where he found him in the 2700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, six blocks from the store location, approximately 45 minutes after the attack, and called 911. Officers responded and detained Doles until the primary officer arrived. Doles sat on the ground uncuffed while waiting for the primary officer.
According to court documents, a person Doles referred to as Shawn was on the scene. Doles asked Shawn to tell the officers he was elsewhere. Shawn declined and said Doles shouldn’t have assaulted that lady, and the following conversation ensued:
Shawn: “Then you beat his aunt too. What was that for?”
Doles: “They need to go back to their country.”
Shawn: “That’s what it was about?”
Doles: “She shouldn’t have came out. They f--ked your country up, but you still love them. F--k outta here. I won’t eat sh-t out their motherf--king stores.”
Shawn: “I love my country to death.”
Doles: “I’ll order out before I eat that motherf--king food.”