Harford County Man Who Shot At Deputies Sentenced To Nearly 50 Years

BEL AIR, MD — A Harford County man will serve 48 years in prison for firing at deputies after officers were called to his home in Street, where he had shot the family dog.

Benjamin Murdy, 45, of Street, said he shot the dog because she would not stop barking, and he threatened to kill deputies approaching his house in the 4500 block of Oak Ridge, officials said.

During the hour-and-a-half standoff that ensued on Jan. 21, 2020, prosecutors said Murdy fired almost 200 rounds of ammunition, hitting a patrol vehicle multiple times and shooting a truck as deputies took cover around the neighborhood. Officials said Murdy injured his neighbor who was moving trash cans, shooting him twice in the lower body.

Deputies recovered 195 casings in the driveway alone and later recovered an AR-15 and .40 caliber handgun from the home, according to prosecutors. They found Cora the dog tied to the deck, shot multiple times, officials said.

Harford County Circuit Court Judge Kevin J. Mahoney sentenced Murdy to the following:

• 40 years in prison for each of five counts of attempted murder, to be served concurrently.
• Five years in prison for using a firearm in a felony crime.
• Three years in prison for animal cruelty.

"Our law enforcement partners risk their lives every day to protect our community," Harford County State's Attorney Albert Peisinger said in a statement. "Let this serve as a reminder that anyone who puts them in harm's way will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”

Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Charles Fitzpatrick for prosecuting the case.

One month after the incident, Murdy entered a plea of not criminally responsible. He was found competent last spring to stand trial and chose a bench trial, meaning the judge heard the case rather than a jury.

The judge said while there were signs of a mental illness, he found Murdy responsible for his actions because he had demonstrated in areas like his profession as a plumber that he could make decisions in complicated situations, The Aegis reported.

Murdy was convicted in August and sentenced Wednesday, March 30. Upon his release, he will be on probation for five years.

See Also:

• Harford Deputy Ambush Ends In Attempted Murder Charge
• Harford Man Guilty Of Shooting At Police And Neighbor: Judge