A Baltimore man accused of shooting and killing Kenneth Bivens, 27, in 2020 is set to stand trial for the third time before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy, beginning Oct. 28. The two previous trials both ended in mistrials.
Donnell Johnson, 34, is charged with first-degree murder and three separate firearm charges in connection to the murder, for which he previously stood trial in 2021 and 2024. A new defense attorney, Natalie A. Finegar, will represent Johnson at his third trial.
Johnson is accused of shooting Bivens in the back of the head on Sept. 10, 2020, following a physical altercation between the two on the 1000 block of Beaumont Avenue. Bivens succumbed to the gunshot wound on Sept. 12, 2020.
While awaiting his third trial, Johnson was denied bail by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn due to a previous armed robbery conviction from 2011.
The court began selecting jurors for the trial on Oct. 28, and the trial is expected to continue with opening statements and testimony the following day.
