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By
Riley Mathews
, Allyson Rogers - July 17, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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The jury heard contradicting closing statements in the attempted murder trial of Milton Clarence Johnson Jr. before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn S. Mays.
Johnson, 21, is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder and assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, reckless endangerment, and multiple firearm-related offenses in connection to a shooting incident that occurred at Harford Heights Elementary School, on the 1900 block of N. Broadway.
As previously reported, on Nov. 9, 2024, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to Darley Avenue for a report of a gun discharging. Upon arrival, officers spoke to the victim, who stated his neighbor had been shooting at him. Following the incident, Johnson walked to the 1700 block of N. Milton Avenue, where the victim identified him by his build. Johnson was placed under arrest.
During closing statements, the prosecution emphasized that Johnson’s statements to police following the incident comprised the most critical evidence in the case.
“When he saw me, he ran left and came back with an AR-15,” Johnson advised during an interview with detectives, claiming the victim chased him with a firearm. The prosecution claimed the statement made no sense.
The prosecution insisted that Johnson approached the victim and said, “Yeah, b***h, I got you now,” before shooting at him multiple times in premeditation.
Defense attorney Daniel P. Mooney challenged the prosecution’s arguments, saying there was an “utter lack of investigation in this case.” While examining the crime scene, no fingerprints or DNA swabs were taken, and no airborne units were dispatched as support. Furthermore, no firearms were recovered from Johnson’s body or home.
Mooney explained to the jury that detectives made no efforts to review surveillance footage attached to the row homes located behind the crime scene.
“When you don’t have enough evidence — not because it doesn’t exist, but because the police didn’t investigate — you don’t have enough for a case,” Mooney said.
The jury is currently deliberating.