Man Convicted Of Killing After Drug Deal Goes Bad

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A 33-year-old man has been convicted of killing another man when a package he thought contained cocaine turned out to have only a T-shirt.

A Baltimore jury convicted Jason K. Hamel Wednesday of second-degree murder in the 2008 death of Keyva Bluitt. Hamel faces a maximum of 50 years in prison at sentencing March 19.

According to evidence presented at trial, Hamel met three men in Federal Hill on June 20, 2008 to buy $5,000 worth of cocaine. Prosecutors say Hamel paid for and got a package, but found it contained only a shirt.

Officials say Hamel pulled out a handgun and fired a single shot into the sellers' car, striking Bluitt.

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