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Andrew Michaels
- September 23, 2024
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East Baltimore Street was crowded outside Norma Jean’s adult entertainment club over Labor Day weekend in 2023 when Kwante Betters was accused of shooting and killing 29-year-old Stephon Stinnett. At the start of Betters’ jury trial on Sept. 23, the prosecution told jurors that city surveillance footage and nearby businesses not only show the shooting, but captured “clear photos of the shooter,” who she identified as Betters.
The 30-year-old defendant is currently on trial for first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner. Betters is represented by defense attorney Michael Tomko.
According to the prosecutor, the shooting occurred after 1 a.m. on Sept. 3, 2023, on the 400 block of East Baltimore Street—an area known as “The Block.” The video allegedly shows Betters pulling out a handgun, pointing it at the victim and then initiating a fight. Stinnett was shot once in his chest and died from his injuries.
Although there were no witnesses to the shooting, she said, two people who claimed to know the defendant later identified him as the suspect in a photo array conducted by the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
Tomko did not refer to the suspect in the video as his client, but acknowledged that witnesses would identify the suspect as Betters at trial. Defense counsel argued that the video would show Stinnett taking “an aggressive stance” against the suspect and “buck” at him. The shooter then, according to his lawyer, went to hit the victim with the gun when it discharged.
While this was a “horrible, unfortunate circumstance,” Tomko concluded, “a murder did not occur.”