A Baltimore City jury heard eyewitness testimony on July 23, in the trial of Melvin Tucker, 45, related to the killing of Moses Earl McKnight, 42, ostensibly over money before Judge Dana M. Middleton.
Tucker is charged with first-degree murder and multiple gun violation charges in connection to the shooting on the 3600 block of Leverton Avenue on May 12, 2024.
Jurors first viewed a surveillance video from multiple cameras that showed a white SUV entering an alley and a person then exiting the vehicle and returning moments later before driving away.
A key witness testified that despite being under the influence of drugs, she witnessed the confrontation and the subsequent shooting. The witness allegedly knew McKnight as “Bird” and Tucker as “Smoke” but didn’t know either of their real names.
She said that Bird and Smoke were arguing over money before Smoke allegedly opened fire and fled in a white SUV.
The witness had initially denied knowing who the shooter was when she was approached by police days later out of fear, but finally identified a person said to be some shooter as Smoke. However, she was unable to identify whether Smoke was in the courtroom during the proceeding .
Defense attorney, Robert Cole, questioned her memory of the incident based on her admitted drug use during the time of the shooting.
A detective then testified that investigators identified the white SUV belonging to Tucker and were able to locate him. The detective also told jurors that the witness later identified Tucker during a follow up identification nearly a year after the homicide.
The detective later identified a person said to be Tucker in the courtroom.
The trial will continue on July 24.
