32-Year-Old Denied Bail in Attempted Murder Case

By Alyssia Davis [former] - August 31, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Victims |

A 32-year-old Baltimore man accused of attempted murder was denied bail on Aug. 30 before Baltimore City Court Circuit Judge Sylvester B. Cox. 

Keith Johnson, 32, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, home invasion, conspiracy to home invasion, armed robbery, conspiracy to armed robbery, robbery, conspiracy to robbery, third and fourth-degree burglary, conspiracy to third and fourth-degree burglary, firearm use in a violent crime, having a handgun on his person, use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure, reckless endangerment, and discharging firearms.

Johnson’s defense attorney, Tony Garcia, said his client is severely sick and has recently been hospitalized twice. Garcia said his client’s sickness has gotten worse as he waits for a trial date.

Garcia also said that Johnson has no prior convictions or arrests and that the victim recanted their statement both in writing and on video. The evidence is based solely on identification, he noted, as there were no fingerprints, DNA, video, or gun that was found. 

The victim said he would not feel threatened if Johnson was released on bail with electronic monitoring. 

However, the prosecutor said she does not find the video and writing statement credible. The evidence was delivered to the defense by the defendant’s mother, she said, and was received soon after Johnson’s first bail hearing was denied.

The prosecutor said the victim had been in contact with the defendant’s family and the letter appeared to be written in two different handwritings following analysis. The prosecutor motioned that the judge deny home detention. 

The judge denied the request for home detention after finding the defendant a threat to public safety and the victim’s safety. 

According to Baltimore Police, Johnson is charged after allegedly shooting a 32-year-old man around 11:50 a.m. on April 17 on the 3000 block of Tioga Parkway. The victim was taken to a hospital and recovered from his injuries.

Following interviews with witnesses and examination of physical evidence, detectives identified Johnson as the shooter and arrested him without incident on May 10 on the 4600 block of Schley Avenue.