Judge Schedules Trial Dates for Double Homicide Defendants

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland scheduled trial dates for two defendants allegedly involved in a double murder.

Vincent Harris, 26, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of firearm use in a felony violent crime and having a handgun in a vehicle.

Tyrone Payne, 23, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun in a vehicle, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, making a false statement to a police officer, causing a false statement to a police officer and obstructing and hindering. 

Harris and Payne are co-defendants; they are suspected of killing Di’Shon Smith, 20, and Deshaun Waters, 21, in July 2023. 

However, they will not be tried together. Payne’s five-day trial will begin Dec. 9 before Judge John Addison Howard, and Harris’ trial will start afterward.

Harris was represented by Marvin Ochoa, while Payne’s lawyer is James Sweeting III

According to a Baltimore Police Department press release, officers responded to a call for a shooting at 3200 block of Hollins Ferry Road on Jul. 25, 2023. Officers found Smith and Waters suffering from mortal gunshot wounds. Smith was pronounced dead on the scene. 

On Jan. 9, the Warrant Apprehension Task Force arrested Harris. Payne was arrested 17 days later.