Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess announced today that Dwayne Commock, 19, of Bowie, and Shamar Terrence Hamm, 23, of Bowie, were sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 20 years of active incarceration for murdering Andrew Kolta, 28, while committing an armed robbery.
“Andrew Kolta’s life was worth so much more than the $17.00 his assailants stole off of his body as he lay dying,” said Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “I offer my deepest condolences to his family, and hope they find solace in the knowledge Mr. Commock and Mr. Hamm will never again have the opportunity to commit heinous crimes.”
On January 28, 2018, at approximately 11:36 pm, Anne Arundel County Police responded to the 1400 block of South Main Chapel Way, Gambrills, for a report of a gunshot in the area. Upon arrival, police located 28-year-old Andrew Samir Mehany Kolta lying in the parking lot and suffering from a gunshot wound. Fire Department personnel transported him to Baltimore Washington Medical Center, where he died as a result of his injuries.
Upon investigation, police learned that Commock, Hamm, and Long drove to Gambrills with the intent of committing a robbery.
Long remained in her vehicle as a “getaway driver” while Hamm and Commock, both wearing masks over their faces to conceal their identities, approached the victim on foot and demanded his wallet. When the victim attempted to run away, Commock shot him in the back. Commock then approached the victim and took his wallet before he and Hamm returned to Long’s car and fled the scene.
During the execution of a search warrant, a handgun that was determined to be the murder weapon was recovered from Long’s vehicle.
Commock pleaded guilty to first degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a violent crime on September 26, 2018. He was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 20 years of active incarceration. He will not be eligible for parole for the first five years of his sentence.
Hamm was found guilty by a Circuit Court jury of first degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and related handgun charges on February 8, 2019. He was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 20 years of active incarceration.
Long pleaded guilty to armed robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a violent crime, and manslaughter on July 19, 2018. She was sentenced to 50 years in prison suspend all but 15 years of active incarceration, and five years of supervised probation upon release from prison. She will not be eligible for parole for the first five years of her sentence.
Judge Glenn L. Klavans presided over the case. Assistant State’s Attorneys James Tuomey and Matthew Watt prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.
