Attempted Murder Defendant Released On Home Detention

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A 49-year-old Baltimore man accused of attempted murder appeared before Judge Philip S. Jackson and was released on electronic home monitoring on Jan. 28 in Baltimore City Circuit Court. 

Kenneth Man defended the case of Joel Lewis on Friday, which involves charges of attempted first and second-degree murder, assault in the first and second-degree, reckless endangerment, having a loaded handgun on his person, discharging firearms, firearm use during a felony violent crime, and illegal possession of a firearm.

The Baltimore Police Department previously reported that on June 27, 2021, a 48-year-old man suffered three gunshot wounds to the neck, right elbow, and left side of his back during a shooting on the 1400 block of E. Fayette Street. The defendant was identified as the shooter nearly two weeks later wearing the same clothes the suspect was seen wearing in the surveillance footage.

During bail review on Friday, Man told Judge Jackson that the surveillance showed two individuals who appeared to be arguing. The footage then showed one of the individuals, later identified as Lewis, walking away before he turned and pointed an object at the victim, which the prosecution alleged was a gun.

Man explained that normally on camera, a flash will be seen, representing the discharge of a gun. Since there was no flash present on the surveillance footage, Man questioned whether a gun was even involved.

“I think [the prosecution] has the wrong person,” said Man, who requested Judge Jackson release Lewis on home detention.

The prosecution argued that several cameras tracked Lewis’ movements in the area and asked that he be held without bail.

Based on Friday’s proceedings, Judge Jackson agreed with Man’s argument that gunfire is usually accompanied by a flash, which wasn’t seen on the video footage, and released Lewis on electronic home monitoring. 

Lewis is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 8.