Parties entered their third day of jury selection in a 2023 downtown shooting case before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin Schreiber II on Oct. 10.
The process, which usually lasts one full day, was delayed after defendant Jesse Freels, 24, continued to disrupt proceedings with unruly and aggressive behavior. Freels previously threatened to throw his feces at court staff. In another hearing, he reportedly flashed a judge with his private parts.
Freels is charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder and assault, firearm use in the commission of a violent crime, reckless endangerment, and additional firearm-related violations in connection to the downtown Baltimore shooting incident, which occurred Jan. 24, 2023.
In a proceeding on Oct. 8, Freels threatened to kill the judge who turned down a defense motion for a not criminally responsible (NCR) plea based on the notion that Freels didn’t know right from wrong nor follow the rule of law.
During the hearing on Oct. 10, Freels and both parties sat with their backs turned toward the judge, a precaution taken due to previous threats made against the bench.
Throughout the morning, tensions ran high. Each time a potential juror was dismissed, Freels yelled and threatened several of the 12 officers stationed in the courtroom for security.
Opening statements began later that evening, with the prosecution telling the jury about footage that captured a suspect in a black-and-white jacket and face mask approaching the victim and shooting at him. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his arm.
The prosecution argued that Freels wore the same clothing as the suspect during his arrest on Feb. 3, 2023, and that his mannerisms and gait also matched the suspect’s. Officers arresting Freels allegedly found a 9mm handgun on his person. Prior to Freels’ arrest, police had disseminated flyers seeking the suspect seen in the footage.
“I’m confident that at the end, you all will find the defendant guilty of all counts,” the prosecution told jurors.
Defense attorney Andre Mahasa opened by thanking the jury for their consideration.
“Freels is glad to have you all here,” he said, emphasizing his client’s desire to prove his innocence.
Mahasa argued that the jacket worn by the suspect in the footage was a popular style and that the handgun was a model commonly used by officers and civilians alike. He continued to emphasize the lack of DNA or fingerprint evidence linking Freels to the crime, and told jurors there were “many reasonable doubts in this case.”
During testimony, a witness for the prosecution alleged that Freels wore the same jacket as the suspect, and that the gun was found in his possession.
Mahasa countered by reaffirming he has encountered dozens of similar handguns during his 11-year career, once again indicating the weapon’s popularity.
Freels’ trial is set to continue Oct 14.
