Man Accused of BB Gun Robbery Partially Acquitted

By Caroline Sutley , Claire Schreiber , Tomas Coles - April 9, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Suspects |

A jury panel acquitted Antoine Hill on five of six charges before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Michael A. DiPietro on April 9.

Hill, 55, was initially charged with armed robbery, robbery, second-degree assault, intent to injure with a dangerous weapon, theft of $100 to under $1,500, and possession and use of a BB gun in connection to a Sept. 7, 2024 incident that occurred in the 3400 block of Liberty Heights Avenue. The jury acquitted Hill of all counts but armed robbery, on which they failed to reach a verdict.

According to charging documents, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to the 3400 block of Callaway Avenue for a report of an armed robbery. At the scene, officers met with the victim, who had just finished work and exited an MTA bus at Liberty Heights Avenue and Denison Street.

As the victim walked along Liberty Heights with headphones on, he felt a tap on his shoulder. The suspect, later identified as Hill, allegedly pointed what appeared to be a silver handgun at him and said, “Don’t try anything. Give me everything you have or you’ll get this .40 in your ass.” 

Hill allegedly took the victim’s phone and turtle shell backpack, which contained a Capital One card. He then instructed the victim to walk northbound, periodically pointing the apparent handgun at him. According to the victim, Hill ran toward a white work van parked on the 3300 block of Callaway Avenue. The victim heard a scream and saw the van drive away shortly after. 

Police later spoke with the van’s owner, who reported having a GPS tracker on his vehicle. Using this information, FoxTrot, the BPD Aviation Unit, located the van on the 500 block of Willow Avenue. Hill and other passengers were detained shortly after on the 4600 block of York Road. Officers recovered a silver and black BB gun, which the victim later identified as the weapon allegedly used in the robbery.

At the scene, the victim seemed uncertain Hill was the robber. However, after officers conducted a street identification, he was able to positively identify Hill as the suspect.

Defense attorney Matthew Connell criticized detectives and claimed they used leading questions that influenced the victim’s identification of Hill.

After the jury broke for recess, Connell requested acquittal on the charge of intent to injure with a dangerous weapon, arguing the BB gun was inoperable and incapable of causing harm. He also sought acquittal on armed robbery charges and argued his client only tapped the victim’s shoulder and didn’t assault anyone. 

Judge DiPietro denied all motions, stating the gun’s weight could cause harm and that placing someone in fear of harm qualifies as second-degree assault.

Closing statements concluded with Connell emphasizing the prosecution’s lack of DNA, fingerprint, and cellphone evidence. None of the stolen items were found on Hill.

The prosecution countered, asserting that the street identification was valid and the BB gun was capable of causing serious injury.