The trial of Antonio Mackey, 22, began on March 11, with the state and defense attorney John Deros delivering opening arguments before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams.
Mackey is charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment and four gun violations for allegedly assaulting and shooting a man on the 200 block of Clay Street last January.
According to the state’s attorney, the victim had an interaction with a man who was wearing a gray jacket and a mask that covered parts of his face. The two began talking and turned into a corner, at which point the masked man became aggressive and pushed the victim. Eventually, shots were fired, leaving the victim wounded in his lower right hip.
A Baltimore Police Department (BPD) detective was notified through dispatch of the shooting and spoke with the victim. After the victim was identified, he was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment. Forensic investigators later recovered a shell casing from the scene.
Surveillance cameras along the block captured the shooter fleeing. Flyers were made with photos of the shooter, leading investigators to identify Mackey as the suspect.
On Jan. 31, 2025, Baltimore police issued a warrant for Mackey’s arrest. However, no search and seizure warrant was issued for Mackey’s residence. The defense claimed investigators misidentified his client and that the state had overcharged the assailant.
On the stand, the detective who located the victim on Clay Street claimed he recognized Mackey as one of the persons of interest in the case. He said he first encountered Mackey while taking part in a foot chase, after a warrant for the defendant’s arrest was released in February.
Mackey was cornered and arrested on Feb. 20, 2025. He was taken into questioning, during which he denied all accusations after being shown video evidence.
The trial is set to continue through the week with additional witness testimonies.
