Attempted Murder Defendant’s Threat to Throw Feces Postpones Trial

By Ashley Luther - October 25, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting |

Staffers for Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays told Baltimore Witness on Oct. 25 that an attempted murder defendant threatened to throw his own excrement at people in the courtroom. His warning postponed the beginning of his trial.  

Jesse Freels, 23, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment, firearm possession with a felony conviction, having a handgun on his person, having a handgun within 100 yards of the public, illegal possession of ammunition and firing a gun in Baltimore City. for a shooting that occurred on the 200 block of North Eutaw Street on Jan. 24, 2023.

This isn’t the first trial that has been postponed in Freels’ case. Baltimore Witness reported that after Freels’ scheduled on Aug. 7, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Paul E. Alpert said he had received a call earlier that morning saying that Freels did not want to come to trial.

Judge Alpert received another call explaining that because Freels had allegedly taken drugs the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services would not transport him to court. 

Freels was found competent to stand trial in April. 

According to court documents, Freels was allegedly captured on surveillance footage firing several rounds at a victim before fleeing and getting on a bus. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm. Officers from the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) identified Freels partly because of his attire.

As of Oct. 25, the Maryland Judiciary has not set another date to have the trial.