Shooter Found Guilty of Killing Innocent Bystander

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A jury reached a guilty verdict for a 23-year-old defendant in connection with a 2023 shootout which resulted in the death of a 46-year-old woman, an innocent bystander.

Jason Johnson was found guilty for the June 6, 2023, incident that claimed the life of Kimberly Benjamin.

The trial before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong ended Aug. 23 with Johnson’s being convicted of voluntary manslaughter, firearm use in a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction, attempted voluntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and affray or public fighting for the killing of Benjamin on the 1300 block of Booth Street.

The prosecution presented substantial surveillance footage and argued the video showed Johnson retrieving a firearm from a nearby alley before confronting a would be assailant, Jamal Piles.

Defense attorney Brandon Patterson claimed the footage was insufficient to show Johnson had a gun at all. Instead, he said the only known firearm in the case was found in a storm drain and discarded by Piles, himself an attempted murder victim.

Piles and Johnson’s confrontation resulted in Benjamin’s death from a stray bullet. Piles claimed at trial he was defending himself and Benjamin, who was his romantic partner, when he shot at Johnson.

Piles was convicted earlier this summer and sentenced to 20 years for first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime and having a loaded handgun on his person.

Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 8.