In closing arguments, defense attorney George Smith called the police investigation into Jamar Hammond’s shooting trial “one of the worst investigations I’ve seen.” The case is being heard before Judge Lawrence Daniels on Aug.14.
Smith assailed police identification procedures and the failure to look for evidence in the case.
According to court documents, on Dec. 8, 2025, the victim was sitting in his car 400 block of E. Baltimore Street when a suspect pulled up in a van, opened his car door, and said “You know what time it is,” then pulled out a pink handgun. The victim was able to grab the suspect and fight for the gun until the suspect eventually walked away.
The victim began to drive away, almost hitting the suspect, before one-to-two gunshots hit the back windshield of the victim’s car. He sustained minor cuts on his back from the assault.
Initially the prosecution told the jury that when someone puts a gun to your head you remember their face. The prosecutor also said the victim was honest to fault; even admitting he smoked marijuana in his car before the assault.
Prosecutors replayed sections of video footage of the incident to remind the jury that the suspect’s face is said to be clearly visible. He also detailed the physical evidence, including a shell casing found in the front of the victim’s car.
In addition, he said a license plate reader registered positive on the suspect’s van, which belonged to Hammond’s mother. Hammond had reportedly used the car in the past. The victim also pointed out Hammond as the suspect in a photo array a few hours after the incident.
Smith rebutted by stating how “disgraceful” the police investigation was regarding Hammond, and how the prosecution’s key witness was previously convicted of lying to police about his name.
Smith claimed that there was little physical evidence from the case because crime scene technicians did not check the inside of the victim’s car for fingerprints or DNA. There was also nothing of note found at the scene of the crime.
He stated that the lead investigator did not talk to other witnesses about what they saw.
Smith said the photo array was rigged against Hammond because it was the only one that matched the victim’s description, when all the photos are supposed to match the testimony.
The state closed by reminding the jury that the evidence they do not have does not invalidate the evidence they do have. Jury deliberations have started.
