Guilty on all Counts: Jury Convicts Man Accused of Murdering Mother of Midshipman

An Anne Arundel County trial jury today returned a verdict of guilty on all counts in the case of Angelo Harrod (shown above-left photo), the 31-year old Annapolis man charged with murdering a U.S. Navy Academy Midshipman's mother last year.  

The trial began on November 28 at the Circuit Courthouse in Annapolis.  Deliberations only lasted a few hours. 

On June 29, 2021, at 12:21 a.m., officers responded to The Graduate Hotel located on West Street for report of a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers arrived and located an adult female victim, later identified as Michelle Jordan Cummings (shown on the far right, orange shirt), 57. Officers and emergency medical services personnel attempted life saving measures, but Mrs. Cummings was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

A preliminary investigation revealed Mrs. Cummings and her husband dropped off their son for the Naval Academy induction that day. Officials said she was sitting on a patio area at the hotel and was not the intended target. 

Harrod was also found guilty on the attempted first-degree murder charges for a man and woman, who investigators said were the main targets. 

 It is believed the shots were fired on Pleasant Street and traveled a distance before striking her multiple times. 

The Office of the Anne Arundel County States Attorney released the following statement:

"What happened to Michelle Cummings, an innocent victim, can happen to any one of us in today’s climate where guns are used to settle petty disputes and terrorize communities into silence with the no snitching culture.

Angelo Harrod was found guilty of two counts of Attempted 1st Degree murder for trying to kill two young people who were on their way home from a date—unleashing a hail of bullets into their car while they cowered inside of it. One of those bullets travelled past them and killed an innocent wife and mother who was in town to celebrate her son’s induction into the U.S. naval academy.

Harrod was convicted of 1st Degree Murder and Conspiracy in the killing of Michelle Cummings as will face up to life in prison without parole as well as up to four additional life sentences when he is sentenced in February."

***Any suspects/arrested/charged individuals and persons of interest named in the articles are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.***