An ongoing feud between defendant Victonio Spencer Jr. and another man escalated in October when Spencer allegedly shot at the victim in Baltimore City’s Carroll-South Hilton neighborhood.
On Nov. 10, Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton denied bail for the 32-year-old defendant, standing by the District Court’s decision last month.
Defense attorney Andrea Jaskulsky informed Judge Middleton that the District Court and Spencer’s previous attorney did not have additional information showing a “change in circumstances” regarding the incident that occurred on Oct. 8 on the 3200 block of W. Baltimore Street. The defendant is facing charges of attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and six weapons violations.
On Tuesday, Jaskulsky said pre-trial services was unable to verify any relevant information before the District Court proceeding, and no references were provided. Spencer was interviewed, but many family and community members have since submitted letters voicing their support for the defendant.
Spencer, whose family attended the bail proceeding over Zoom, has no prior convictions, failures to appear in court or other criminal matters on his record, pre-trial services confirmed.
According to court documents, Spencer and the victim had a dispute on the day of the shooting resulting from “an ongoing feud between the victim and other individuals in the community.” The victim reportedly told Baltimore Police that the two men were on the 3200 block of W. Baltimore Street where Spencer went to his truck to retrieve a handgun and then allegedly fired at the victim, who was uninjured.
While Spencer reportedly drove away after the shooting, police reported that the victim ran to his home on the 10 block of S. Ellamont Street. A .45-caliber casing and two metal bullet fragments were recovered from the scene, and police interviewed a witness who reportedly “confirmed the events as described” by the victim.
The victim identified Spencer as the alleged shooter from a photograph shown by police.
“The alleged victim in this case has a very long criminal record,” Jaskulsky said. “He was in a relationship with Mr. Spencer’s mom at some time.”
Spencer is not legally prevented from owning a firearm nor was the recovered firearm “pointed in anyone’s direction,” defense counsel added before asking Judge Middleton for her client’s release on home monitoring with the ability to work.
A stand-in prosecutor acknowledged the recovered bullet fragments and casing, saying there was some body camera footage as well. There was also a previous conflict between Spencer’s brother and victim during which the defendant’s brother allegedly stabbed the same victim; however, the prosecutor did not further elaborate.
Despite pre-trial service’s recommendation to release Spencer on his own recognizance under the terms he not own or possess any firearms and have no contact with victim, Judge Middleton said there was still concern for the public’s safety and denied bail.
The judge concluded that although Spencer legally owned a firearm “doesn’t mean [he] used it properly.”
