Jurors delivered a same-day verdict in the case of Michael Reed on March 19, finding the defendant guilty of all charges within hours of closing arguments.
Reed, 22, was convicted of attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment and three gun offenses for shooting another man outside Cash USA Pawn Shop on the 1200 block of W. North Avenue last July. Reed, who was previously represented by defense attorney Deborah Warner-Dennis, chose at the last minute to dismiss his counsel and represent himself at trial.
The state’s case largely centered on the testimony of a security guard employed at Cash USA who purported to have witnessed the shooting unfold.
The guard testified that he recognized Reed as the shooter because he had witnessed the defendant regularly dealing drugs in the area. His identification, he said, was aided by a pair of limited edition New Balance shoes and a pair of Under Armour shorts decorated with a star symbol that Reed was said to wear while frequenting the area.
Reed pushed back against the security guard’s testimony, arguing the specific model of sneakers he was seen wearing were a common sighting around Baltimore City. He accused the guard of lying on the stand, pointed to a lack of forensic evidence presented by the state, and urged jurors to consider why the state chose not to summon the victim of the shooting to testify at trial.
Despite Reed’s passion in closing, jurors ultimately sided with the state.
Reed is now set to be sentenced April 22 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Michael A. DiPietro.
