A 39-year-old Curtis Bay resident accused of shooting a man and attempting to conceal potential video evidence was denied bail on Oct. 16 for the crimes at the Fairhaven Mini Market in September.
Jerrell Anton Williams intervened in an argument between the victim and a store clerk at the store, also know as M & C Food Market, on the 4000 block Pennington Avenue on Sept. 21, the prosecutor told Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton on Friday. According to the police report, the defendant approached them and began arguing with the victim when the fight became physical.
“In close range, [Williams] pulls a gun out of his pocket and shoots [the victim], leaves him there to slide down the back of the wall and then approaches the clerk, telling him to turn off all of the video,” the prosecutor claimed, adding that the defendant cut off his dreadlocks when he left the crime scene.
She also said that the defendant approached the victim and store clerk “out of nowhere and got “nose-to-nose” with the victim before “taking a swing at him.”
Defense attorney Rachel Fluriach’s argument contradicted the prosecution as she claimed he acted in self-defense after being misidentified by the victim. She said Williams called defense counsel after the incident and has since worked with them.
Despite Fluriach’s statement that the defendant had no priors, the prosecutor interjected and said Williams has a record of allegedly possessing a controlled dangerous substance from 2005 and, more recently, robbery, theft and malicious destruction of property from 2020.
The defense requested house arrest, explaining that Williams is dealing with complications from pancreatic cancer and needs to return to the MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center for treatment. She also informed the judge that Williams has a handgun permit valid through 2028.
Pre-trial services reported Williams had no priors or failures to appear in court and recommended his release on home detention due to a “lack of criminal history.” However, Judge Middleton questioned defense counsel labeling the case as both self-defense and misidentification and denied the defendant bail based on the facts presented.
Charges against Williams include attempted second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and six weapons violations. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in the John R. Hargrove, Sr. District Court at 700 E. Patapsco Avenue on Oct. 29.
