Parties Debate Motive in Gatorade Bottle Shooting

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Closing arguments in the murder trial of James Richburg, 62, were heard on Aug. 7 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kimberly C. McBride. During the proceeding counsel debated details of surveillance footage recovered from the scene of the fatal shooting.

Richburg is charged with first- and second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, firearm use in a crime of violence, and firearm possession with a disqualifying felony conviction in connection to the death of William Womack, 30, on Nov. 30, 2024.

Womack and Richard allegedly engaged in an altercation on a Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus at the intersection of S. Eutaw and Redwood Streets in downtown Baltimore that reportedly resulted in Richard fatally shooting Womack in the chest..

Counsel argued primarily about the degree to which Richburg’s actions were motivated by self defense, a critical factor in determining whether the shooting constituted murder or voluntary manslaughter.

Defense attorney Avrohom Greenfield argued the case was a matter of perspective by referencing a viral 2015 photo of a dress that some saw as white and gold, and others saw as blue and black.

Greenfield explained that Richburg believed Womack was harassing him on the bus and committed battery against him when he dropped his Gatorade bottle and reached over Richburg to pick it up.

Directing the jury’s attention to surveillance footage recovered from the bus, Greenfield claimed that Womack exited the bus, fumbled with his waistband as if trying to access a weapon and reentered the bus with obvious intent to attack Richburg, thereby provoking the latter to act in self defense.

The prosecution found proof of Richburg’s premeditation in the same footage in which Richburg allegedly told Womack, “I won’t let you live.”

No weapon was recovered from Womack’s body as Greenfield suggested, the prosecution said. They posited that Womack’s fumbling upon exiting the bus prior to reentry were the result of him attempting to rearrange the bag and Gatorade bottle he was holding. Additional footage revealed Womack reentered the bus with both the bottle and bag in hand, with no visible weapon.

“Tell me, ladies and gentlemen, what color is the dress?” he concluded in response to defense’s question of the evidence.

The jury is currently deliberating.