MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — A Maryland man has been sentenced to 400 years in prison — with a suspension of all but 30 years — after being convicted for a 2023 shootout in Rockville.
Montgomery County Prosecutors say 21-year-old Jefferson resident Callen Baker was the getaway driver and supplied the handgun used in a March 1 shooting last year. They say Baker's co-defendant, Zachary Ciccantelli, released a "hail of gunfire" on a group of people recording a music video in the 700 block of Monroe Street. Several of the victims fired back, and the shootout caused multiple bullets to hit occupied apartment buildings in the neighborhood.
Montgomery County Police recovered more than 20 shell casings and one ghost gun from the scene. There was a school bus dropping off children nearby at the time of the shooting, and it captured sounds of gunfire and the getaway car fleeing on its surveillance camera. Prosecutors also presented doorbell camera footage and some footage captured by one victim, who was able to flee from the gunfire, as part of their evidence in the case.
In May 2024, both men were found guilty of 18 counts of first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, and use of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence and reckless endangerment.
"If you’re willing to engage in this type of activity you belong in jail, and for a long time," State’s Attorney John McCarthy said. "There was zero regard for the innocent lives in close proximity to the reckless gunfire. We thank the judge for this sentence, which should send a clear message that this terrifying behavior will not be tolerated.”
Baker will be admitted to the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program while incarcerated, and will also serve five years of supervised probation after release in 30 years. Ciccantelli faces 500 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 13. The case was tried in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County before Judge Marielsa Bernard.
