Witness testimony continued June 23 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Alan C. Lazerow in the trial of defendant Tyjai Archer, 27.
Archer is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault and firearm use in a felony violent crime in connection to the death of Davion Hodges, 25, on Sept. 3, 2025.
According to charging documents, at approximately 10:18 p.m. that day, Baltimore City Police emergency dispatch contacted the homicide unit, requesting response to a shooting at an apartment unit on the 900 block of Edmondson Avenue. Hodges was later pronounced deceased.
Through surveillance footage, detectives were able to secure a still image of Hodges entering the building with a Black woman wearing black leather clothes and curly, “unnaturally red” hair, who was later allegedly identified as Archer. A witness and friend of the victim was transported to the homicide unit, where he provided a recorded witness statement regarding the incident.
The witness reported that while he was in the bedroom of the victim’s apartment, he overheard Hodges engaging in a verbal altercation with a woman in the kitchen and living room area. The witness further stated he heard a single gunshot. Upon opening the door, he reportedly found Hodges laying on the floor. He said he then heard a second gunshot and, believing his life was in danger, exited the residence by climbing through the window.
A photographic array was conducted, and the witness identified a person said to be Archer as the red-haired woman captured in a still image police had recovered. Using motor vehicle records, investigators identified the suspect as Archer.
During a later conversation on Sept. 6, 2025, the witness said he was hesitant to provide further information concerning the incident. He claimed he had witnessed Archer shoot Hodges and added he was in the room when the verbal altercation between the defendant and victim erupted.
Hodges had allegedly asked Archer to leave and placed his hand on her shoulder. It was then that Archer produced a gun from a bag she was carrying and shot Hodges twice, the witness said. Archer then turned and allegedly shot at the witness, who fled to the bedroom.
A second witness who also claimed to be at the scene reported hearing three gunshots and seeing an unknown woman in black leather clothes and red hair exit the building.
On the stand, a detective revealed that Archer reportedly bought a ticket to Philadelphia after the incident. She reportedly returned to Maryland four days later, before returning again to Philadelphia.
The jury trial is set to continue on June 24 with additional witness testimony.
