After nearly two years, Matthew Harper Jr.’s trial began Sept. 15 in the Mitchell Courthouse.
Harper, 30, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, handgun operating and handgun in vehicle for his alleged involvement in Damien Parker’s death on Oct. 7 2024 on the 2300 block of Harford Road.
The prosecution argued that there is video footage, a firearm, and DNA evidence that connects Harper to the homicide.
During opening statements, the prosecution said investigators gathered both direct and circumstantial evidence connecting Harper to the shooting. According to the prosecution, surveillance footage captured showed a black Infiniti near the intersection of Harford Road and Normal Avenue at the time of the shooting. Investigators later identified Harper as the owner of a 2011 Infiniti.
According to the prosecutor, Parker was shot near the intersection of Harford Road and Normal Avenue.
The prosecution also told jurors that on Oct. 9, police stopped a black Infiniti after a pursuit. The driver, identified as the defendant, fled the scene in the car and later stopped the car and ran. During this, he allegedly discarded an object into the backyard of a vacant home. Police recovered a Taurus G2c .40-caliber handgun from the area.
The prosecutors said the recovered firearm was later linked to the homicide through ballistic evidence. DNA recovered from the gun was consistent with Harper’s DNA profile.
Court documents state that Baltimore City homicide detectives responded to the scene shortly after 11 p.m. Parker was found suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A medical examiner later determined Parker’s manner of death to be caused by multiple gunshot wounds.
Harper’s attorney, Jason Ott, argued that the prosecution had not established who was inside the black Infiniti at the time of the shooting. Ott told jurors that witnesses would confirm a murder occurred but could not prove Harper committed it. He also urged jurors to closely examine the timeline and noted that Harper was not charged until September 2025.
The case is being tried before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia H. Jones. The trial is set to continue on Sept. 16.
