A Glen Burnie man was sentenced to 40 years in prison Wednesday for committing the first in a string of killings prompted by violence in the Bay Ridge Gardens Apartments in Annapolis.

Tyrone Craig Williams, 39, was convicted of first-degree murder for the July 21, 2007, shooting death of Cole Jermaine Collins, 24, outside 5 Marcs Court.

In an emotional hearing attended by about 50 of Collins’ friends and family members, Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Michael Loney sentenced Williams to life in prison with all but 35 years suspended, as well as five years for a handgun violation, said State’s Attorney’s Spokeswoman Kristin Fleckenstein.

Prosecutor Michael Dunty had recommended a life sentence without parole for Williams, who had been convicted of felony drug charges twice and driving while intoxicated three times.

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Williams tearfully apologized Wednesday for tearing apart Collins’ family and leaving a 4-year-old girl without a father. Williams’ mother also apologized to Collins’ family, calling July 21 that “darkest day of her life,” Fleckenstein said.

Defense attorney Elizabeth Palan focused on Williams problem with alcohol abuse, Fleckenstein said.

Palan could not be reached for comment.

Collins’ family described him as a “peacemaker” and said he was always offering hugs, Fleckenstein said.

“I pray that justice is served for Tyrone Williams,” said Iris Crank Fields, Collins’ cousin, in court statement.

“He didn’t have the right to take away a father, a son, a brother and a friend.”

Collins was among a group of people standing outside an apartment on Marcs Court when Williams came looking for revenge because his 17-year-old cousin had been jumped by as many as 30 people that morning in July.

Williams confessed to police that he shot Collins, but during the two-day trial in February, his previous defense attorney Warren Brown argued that the shooting was committed in self-defense.

Williams testified during the trial that he only intended to scare people, but accidentally pulled the trigger, striking Collins. He said the gun went off a second time by accident as he tried to run away.

Loney returned with a guilty verdict after only 15 minutes, Fleckenstein said.

Williams have been held at the Anne Arundel detention center since his arrest in July and will be turned over to the state Department of Corrections for his prison assignment.

cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com