Attempted homicide defendant Antonio Nance opted to represent himself at trial and proceed with jury selection before Judge Jeffrey M. Geller on July 15 in Baltimore City Circuit Court.
Jury selection began around 11:45 a.m. and is expected to continue into the afternoon.
The 43-year-old defendant is charged with attempted murder, assault and multiple weapons violations for allegedly shooting at a fellow passenger after an altercation on a Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus on the 2700 block of W. Franklin Street. On Aug. 12, 2025, court documents state, Nance pushed the passenger on the bus, told the victim to “get off,” and asked if he wanted to fight.
Nance is accused of firing several shots at the victim who ran around the bus. However, the victim was uninjured.
Following the June dismissal of his former defense attorney, Augustine Okeke, the defendant appeared without counsel for his trial date on July 14. He initially requested a postponement to hire new counsel before Judge Barry G. Williams, but informed Judge Melissa K. Copeland in postponement court that he would move forward without counsel and represent himself.
During the hearing, Nance informed the court he could not afford new legal counsel and would represent himself. Jury selection was delayed when Judge Geller said only the defendant’s dress shirt was approved by the Sheriff’s Department. Any issues with his other clothing was not discussed in open court.
While waiting for new clothing, Nance requested the judge review his motion to dismiss the case based on a speedy trial violation. Judge Geller reviewed and denied the motion, saying that Judge Copeland previously found good cause to go beyond the defendant’s April 1 Hick’s date—a defendant’s right to be tried within 180 days of their or their attorney’s first court appearance.
