Defendant Faces Life in Prison for Brooklyn Murder

Baltimore, Md. (July 21, 2025) - The Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City announced that defendant Paul Artis pleaded guilty to First-Degree Murder and Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, in connection with the fatal shooting of Ondrel Mayo in August of 2024 at the 900 block of E. Patapsco Avenue. Artis faces Life, plus 20 years at his sentencing hearing on December 10. Assistant State’s Attorney Erin Godwin prosecuted this case.

“I commend ASA Godwin for securing this plea and the Baltimore Police Department Homicide Unit for compiling such compelling evidence that the defendant was persuaded to take accountability for their violent actions,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “My team and I are committed to seeing justice served for Mr. Mayo and his family. Individuals looking to perpetrate violence in Baltimore should know that my office and I are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring justice and accountability for victims and their families.”

On August 1, 2025, just before 3:30 a.m., Baltimore Police 900 block of E. Patapsco Avenue for reported gunfire. Upon arrival, officers located Ondrel Mayo lying face up in front of an SUV, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the body. 9mm shell casings were recovered from the scene near the victim

Homicide detectives recovered surveillance video showing the defendant, Paul Artis, arriving in the area around 2:25 a.m. in a beige Mercedes registered to him. Artis was seen approaching a group outside 922 E. Patapsco Avenue, including the victim. Footage captured the defendant walking up to the victim and shooting him multiple times before fleeing the scene.

Additional video showed Artis and a co-defendant at a nearby IHOP after the incident, and later returning to the area, where the co-defendant retrieved Artis’s vehicle near the crime scene. On August 6, Artis contacted police and voluntarily came in for questioning the next day. He gave inconsistent statements but admitted to being present, in addition to identifying himself in surveillance footage.

Artis’ co-defendant, Viola Poole, pleaded guilty on June 25, 2025 to Accessory After the Fact to First-Degree Murder and received a sentence of 10 years, suspending all but three years, with five years of supervised probation, no contact with the victim’s children and parents and alcohol screening and treatment, mental health screening and treatment, and parenting classes.