Hollins Ferry Road Double Murderer Guilty on All Charges

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.

Following a weeklong trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court, a jury found Vincent Harris guilty of all seven charges against hin on May 15.

Harris, 27, was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of felony firearm use, and one count of having a handgun in his vehicle. The minimum sentence for first-degree murder in Maryland is life in prison without parole.

Harris was arrested Jan. 9, 2024 for his alleged involvement in a July 2023 double homicide that occurred in the 3200 block of Hollins Ferry Road. Co-defendant Tyrone Payne was arrested 17 days later, on Jan. 26, 2024.

Di’shon Smith, 20, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Deshaun Waters, 21, was transported to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Medical staff pronounced Payne deceased two days later.

Officers recovered footage from commercial and home security cameras in the area that helped them identify Harris and Payne and track their movements following the shooting. At one point, officers observed them attempting to discard evidence.

On April 14, a jury found Payne guilty on all charges except two — obstructing and hindering law enforcement, and making false statements to the police.

Defense attorney Marvin Ochoa continued to assert Harris’ innocence, emphasizing investigators’ inability to discern a motive for the shooting. He called for an acquittal, claiming detectives failed to investigate the case diligently, and that the crime scene became contaminated during the investigation.

The prosecution maintained that the truth of the case lies in video evidence, cellphone and location data, and witness testimony, and urged the jury to find Harris guilty on all charges. Ultimately, the jury sided with the prosecution.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin P. Welch presided over the trial.

No further hearings are scheduled in this case.