Greenmount Avenue Attempted Murder Defendant Claims Self-Defense

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A 38-year-old attempted murder defendant presented a self-defense claim for a shooting that injured no one in Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia H. Jones’ courtroom Aug. 16.

William Harris is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, illegal possession of ammunition and discharging a firearm in connection to a Dec. 17, 2023, shooting.

According to the prosecution, a Baltimore Police Department (BPD) employee was monitoring the CCTV camera on the corner of 32nd Street and Greenmount Avenue where Harris and his friends were drinking and hanging out. Harris was arguing intermittently with the victim, who was across the street. Eventually Harris allegedly pulled out a gun from his jacket and shot at the man. The prosecutor emphasized that “nobody swung at Harris” or threatened him, but he nevertheless fired five shots at the unidentified victim, who was not injured.

BPD recovered the firearm allegedly used in the shooting in a front yard along the path of Harris’ flight from the scene. A firearms expert will testify as to the ballistics evidence linking the gun and the crime.

Defense attorney Jason Rodriguez disputed the attempted murder charges against his client. He asked jurors if Harris truly intended to kill the victim, why would the gun found in the yard still have had bullets left in it? He argued Harris “acted only in self-defense” and were it not for those actions, could have been shot or killed himself.

Testimony began Friday afternoon.