Jury Acquits Attempted Murder Suspect of Most Serious Charges

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A jury reached a not guilty verdict for the most serious charges facing 34-year-old Jytarious Evans before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin P. Welch on June 6.

Evans was acquitted of attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, possession of a regulated firearm by a prohibited person, transporting a handgun and illegal possession of ammunition.

No verdict was reached on the charge of firearm use in a violent crime. Evans was initially charged in connection to a shooting that occurred Aug. 17, 2023, in the 1700 block of W. Pratt Street.

Surveillance video of the surrounding area was crucial to the prosecution’s argument. The footage allegedly depicted Evans approaching the victim’s car, and then fleeing the scene while shoving an object into his pants. Additionally, a detective identified Evans as the man in black seen in the footage, having recognized him from multiple negative interactions.

Defense attorney Matthew Connell argued the prosecution’s evidence failed to prove Evans was the perpetrator and claimed their case depended on circumstantial evidence. Furthermore, said Connell, the footage did not show Evans shooting the victim. Forensic evidence recovered from the car was inconclusive, and fingerprints lifted from the van did not match those of Evans.

No further hearings are scheduled in this case.