Teen Sentenced to 45 Years for Fatal Pulaski Highway Shooting

Juan Matute, 18, was sentenced by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Michael A. DiPietro on Nov. 6 in connection with the fatal shooting of Fredi Orozo Lua, 33, in March of 2025. Matute pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony or violent crime use in a felony or violent crime on Aug. 5, 2026. He received a life sentence for the murder charge, with all but 45 years suspended. For the firearm charge, he received a 20-year sentence with the first five years to be served without the possibility of parole. The firearm sentence will run concurrently with the murder sentence. Following his release, Matute will serve five years of supervised probation. He was also referred to the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program. According to the charging documents, officers responded to a fatal shooting on the 3200 block of Pulaski Highway on March 22, 2025, around 4:40 pm. Lua was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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