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By
Sage Cho
- May 20, 2025
Attempted Murder
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Court
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Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Following delays in proceedings due to a juror’s illness on May 20, counsel delivered opening statements in the attempted murder trial of Liteeaf Peterson, 25. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Erik S. Atas presided over the trial.
The case was sent to trial the day prior despite counsel’s attempts to postpone the hearing to accommodate a new witness. Investigators believe the new witness, an older male with previous felony convictions, was Peterson’s intended target.
Though initial charging documents list a woman as the primary victim, detectives later learned she was unrelated to the incident and sustained a toe wound after inadvertently entering Peterson’s range of fire.
Judge Atas ultimately nixed the postponement.
Peterson faces charges of attempted murder, assault, and firearm use for allegedly attempting to shoot and kill the unnamed male victim on April 29, 2024, in the 400 block of S. Pulaski Street. Due to previous felony narcotics and firearm convictions, Peterson is prohibited from possessing a gun.
He was reportedly identified as the primary suspect via seeking-to-identify flyers containing still images from area surveillance cameras.
Defense attorney Hunter Pruette called the photographs “grainy and blurry” and questioned the validity of identifications made from low visibility images.
“Similar isn’t proof beyond reasonable doubt,” Pruette told the jury, urging them to find Peterson innocent. “We all look like somebody.”
Peterson and two other individuals, believed to be his friends, were captured by surveillance cameras exchanging words with the victim shortly before the shooting occurred. As the conversation continued the trio appeared to open fire at the victim.
The prosecution emphasized the severity and potential danger of the trio’s actions.
“They shot indiscriminately near a school, across streets, not caring who they hit,” said Hunt.
Investigators in the case are expected to testify, including a Baltimore Police Departmet (BPD) officer who helped identify Peterson after getting to know him on routine patrols.
The trial continues.