Homicide defendant Jimmy Charles was denied bail on Sept. 9 when a Baltimore City prosecutor claimed the defendant “essentially executed” 28-year-old Keyon Smith outside Freddie’s Sports Bar & Grill on Dec. 12, 2025.
Charles’ bail review comes after defense attorney Roya Hanna filed a petition to challenge District Court Judge William M. Dunn’s ruling denying the defendant bail on June 5.
Charles is charged with first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony-violent crime and having a loaded handgun on his person. He allegedly confessed to the crime.
On Wednesday, the prosecutor told Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton that the 36-year-old defendant shot Smith 11 times, including several shots at close range. The shooting occurred after a heated conversation, which was captured on video from inside the bar at 7209 Harford Road on Dec. 7, 2025. Footage from outside showed Charles allegedly shoot Smith one or two times, the prosecutor said, and then stand over the victim’s body and continue shooting him after he had fallen to the ground.
Hanna requested Judge Middleton place Charles on home detention, acknowledging the bar footage and what appeared to be an “intense conversation.” Defense counsel noted that Charles and people who were with him were confronted by other patrons. When the defendant left the bar, Smith followed him to his car where he was shot.
There is “viable self-defense in this case [and] we look forward to the opportunity to litigate that,” Hanna said. “…The main issue is [the defendant] was able to legally have a handgun and, unfortunately, had to use the handgun.”
Judge Middleton ultimately denied Charles’ bail, saying Judge Dunn noted the defendant allegedly confessed to his involvement and identified himself in photos from the video. This information is underscored by court documents that claim Charles “confessed to the fatal shooting” when Baltimore Police showed him evidence, including photos from the recovered video footage.
Charles reportedly waived his Miranda rights prior to his interview with police.
According to the statement of charges, the fatal shooting occurred around midnight on the 3000 block of Rosalie Avenue. Two other individuals were with Charles at the bar; however, only the defendant and victim left the bar together. Video shows Charles and Smith walk toward a black Mercedes, where the defendant then retrieved a handgun from the front passenger’s side and allegedly opened fire.
Homicide detectives knew one of the people who was with Charles at the bar and later identified himself with the defendant from photos taken from the video footage, court documents state.
In the early morning hours after the shooting, police found suspected blood, nine 9mm casings and two projectiles. Police executed a search and seizure warrant at the defendant’s home in June when they found clothing that are said to match the shooter’s clothing.
A pre-trial hearing is set for Nov. 13.
