Opening statements were delivered in the non-fatal shooting of a 40-year-old Baltimore man on Oct. 29, with the prosecution and defense presenting contrasting accounts of the incident before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Bridget Schiffer.
Defendant Tyrone Emmanuel White Sr. is charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony crime of violence, reckless endangerment, and malicious destruction of property for allegedly shooting a 40-year-old male during a confrontation on the 2400 block of Orleans Street that prosecutors say endangered multiple bystanders.
The prosecution told the jury that the conflict began when White and his sister were driving to the Blue Point Crab House and nearly struck the victim with their vehicle — their first encounter that day. Afterward, as the sister entered the restaurant to pick up food, White remained in the car. When she returned, “some swats were exchanged” between the victim and White’s sister.
A nearby police sergeant observed the interaction but did not intervene, reportedly believing the pair were “just messing around,” as heard on his body-worn camera footage.
“This case isn’t about who did it,” the prosecutor told jurors. “It’s about the fact that his reasoning is not good enough.”
She emphasized that White fired his weapon on a crowded holiday afternoon, striking both a house and a vehicle, and recklessly endangering people nearby. The prosecutor asserted that the victim was unarmed — “no gun, no knife, nothing.”
In response, defense attorney Roland Harris argued that White acted in fear after the victim allegedly became aggressive toward his sister. Harris claimed the victim “treated her like a punching bag,” followed the siblings to the crab house, and threatened to harm anyone near their vehicle.
The victim testified that he had been unemployed due to an injury after 17 years working as a floor installer. He recounted leaving his residence that morning to buy supplies for a cookout, stopping first at a corner store. As he crossed the street, he said, a vehicle driven by White sped toward him, forcing him to jump out of the way.
According to the victim, the driver later identified as White yelled a curse word at him. When he later encountered the same vehicle outside Blue Point Crab House, White allegedly rolled down his window, showing him that he had a gun, leading to a back and forth interaction.
The victim said White’s sister exited the restaurant and told him to “get the f*ck away from the car,” before shoving him. In response, he allegedly pushed her back.
“I told her, don’t put your hands on me,” the victim testified. He said he then saw White point a gun at him, prompting him to run. He said White fired multiple shots, striking him in the right leg.
“I hid underneath a car and called the police,” said the victim, adding that he feared White would shoot him again. Following the incident, he was hospitalized for two weeks, underwent four surgeries and two blood transfusions, and is still in therapy due to ongoing mobility issues. The victim stated he had never met White or his sister before that day.
During cross-examination, Harris asked the victim why he tried to take a photo of White’s license plate and why he did not approach a nearby police car if he felt unsafe. The defense also brought up the victim’s 2013 assault conviction.
The trial is slated to continue with witness testimony on Oct. 30.
