Opening statements were delivered in a 2022 Little Italy homicide on Nov. 17, with prosecutors pointing to a text message sent from the defendant’s cellphone shortly after the murder of 42-year-old Olen Smith, announcing he was “fresh out of retirement.”.
The defendant, 26-year-old Gregory Jones, faces multiple charges in connection to Smith’s death, including first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, firearm possession with a felony conviction, and illegal possession of a regulated firearm. Jones has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
According to the prosecution, Smith had been in downtown Baltimore’s Little Italy neighborhood on March 11, 2022 and left Mo’s Seafood late that night with two women. Prosecutors said the women were unaware that Smith would be targeted as he walked toward a vehicle.
Prosecutors alleged Jones and a co-conspirator ambushed Smith, causing him to run before he was shot just yards from Mo’s on the 800 block of Stiles Street. Smith then fell into a roadway, where prosecutors say he was shot again, this time fatally. The following day, investigators recovered a stolen and partially burned vehicle from the area.
Investigators collected 26 cartridge casings, three metal fragments, and additional ballistics evidence from the scene and the victim’s body. Prosecutors said those casings matched a .45-caliber firearm Jones was documented using in two incidents that occurred later that year on April 3 and April 27. Search warrants executed at two residences also produced Jones’ cellphone, from which the “fresh out of retirement” message allegedly was sent.
Defense attorney Avrohom Greenfield told jurors the prosecutor’s evidence was insufficient to prove Jones’ guilt, claiming a lack of direct involvement. He argued that prosecutors cannot prove who possessed or used the firearm that night, and said that the “retirement” text message lacked clear context to prove its connection to the murder.
Proceedings were held before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Troy K. Hill.
The trial is set to continue with additional witness testimony on Nov. 18.
