Acquitted–Defendant Innocent on 11 of 13 Gun Counts

By Kristen Wheeler , Caroline Sutley - March 5, 2025
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Home Page | Shooting | Victims |

A jury acquitted attempted murder defendant Antonio Freeman, 37, of 11 of his 13 charges on March 5. No verdict was rendered for two charges of firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

Defense attorney Avrohom Greenfield and prosecution concluded closing statements for Freeman — who initially faced charges of attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and various firearm-related offenses — the same day the jury reached their verdict. Freeman’s jury trial was held before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia H. Jones.

The trial was a continuation of the previous day’s testimonies, during which both a witness and victim identified Freeman as the alleged shooter and recounted theincident. 

“You heard their raw, unfiltered testimony yesterday. You heard every emotion,” the prosecution began. “But with raw and unfiltered emotion comes the truth.”

On Aug. 5, 2024, officers responded to a shooting on the 1400 block of Kenhill Avenue. Freeman allegedly fired multiple shots at a female victim, who immediately called 911 after fleeing the scene. All witnesses and the victim were at the scene of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) investigation, except Freeman. The prosecution emphasized that Freeman’s bike was missing too, along with the firearm. Officers recovered two 9mm casings at the scene.

“Why else would he be the only one that did not remain at the scene?” The prosecution asked the jury, pointing at Freeman. “Because the police immediately responded at the scene.”

Greenfield presented the casings to the jury, pointing out that both appeared to be rusty and dented. He highlighted the absence of bullet damage on the victim’s vehicle, as well as the house that was behind the vehicle during the shooting. Greenfield suggested the casings were from a previous unrelated incident.

A map of the incident was also presented to the jury. Greenfield criticized investigators for failing to note the precise location of Freeman in relation to where casings were found.

“This is a Scooby-Doo case, because the police have done nothing to further the investigation.” Greenfield opened before the jury. “Unlike the state and the police department, you take this case with seriousness and care for Mr. Freeman and the entire city of Baltimore.”

The prosecution argued that Freeman’s poor aim did not absolve him of his alleged intent to kill. They said that his absconding from officers implied guilt, given that it took BPD nine days to apprehend him. During an execution of a search and seizure warrant at Freeman’s residence, investigators allegedly recovered a holster.

Greenfield emphasized that the search warrant was executed ten days after the incident. He suggested that the holster might have been from before Aug. 5, as officers could not determine when Freeman was last in his house. Furthermore, no DNA or fingerprints were collected from the scene.

Due to inconsistent testimony, Greenfield implied that the victim herself could have been the perpetrator, as it was unintentionally revealed that the victim reached for the trunk of the vehicle.

The prosecution pointed out that a witness living with Freeman had not mentioned anyone possessing a gun. Freeman is the only individual accused in the incident.

Editor’s note: This article was updated March 6, 2025 to include the jury’s verdict.