On the evening of May 22, 2021, Kendell Jerome Cook, a 39-year-old male, was shot and killed at the GQ Barbershop on Hanover Street in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Cook, the owner of the barbershop, was working that night when a man dressed in camouflage and a ski mask entered the establishment. Despite the disguise, Cook apparently recognized the intruder, exclaiming 'Mike' just before the man opened fire.
The gunman was later identified as Michael Baltimore, 47, a former employee of the
barbershop who had worked for Cook until 2019. After shooting Cook, Baltimore also shot at another man, Anthony Lamar White, as he tried to escape from the back of the shop. White was seriously injured but survived the initial attack. Tragically, White later died in an unrelated incident, a development which presented challenges for the prosecution as he was a key witness.
Following the shooting, a manhunt for Baltimore ensued. He was featured on the television series '90 Day Fiancé' alongside Cook. In June 2022, Baltimore was added to the U.S. Marshals Service's 15 Most Wanted list, with a significant reward offered for information leading to his capture. The search for Baltimore, who had an extensive and violent criminal history, came to an end in January 2023 when he was apprehended in Florida. His arrest occurred after he was involved in a fight at a bar, during which he reportedly threatened an employee with a knife and a firearm. A search of his vehicle at the time of his arrest uncovered drugs and a loaded handgun.
After being extradited to Pennsylvania, Baltimore faced multiple charges, including criminal homicide. In January 2026, he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and aggravated assault. The plea agreement, which was supported by the families of both Cook and White, resulted in a sentence of 15 to 30 years in state prison. This sentence is to be served consecutively to a separate 4-to-10-year sentence he was already serving for theft of a firearm.
