After Two Days of Trial, A Judge Dismisses Case for Non-fatal Shooting Defendant

By Cimone Gass [former] , Gabriella Salas [former] - March 14, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

The case for a defendant charged with a non-fatal shooting was dismissed on March 9 before Baltimore City Circuit Judge Barry G. Williams. 

Shabraya Lee, 20, was charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, use of a firearm during a violent crime, reckless endangerment, having a handgun on her person, having a handgun in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm within Baltimore City in connection to an incident on Aug. 28, 2021.

Judge Williams said there was a lack of evidence that a shooting occurred. He also said it was unclear if Lee obtained a firearm, acknowledging that there was no evidence that indicated she was involved in the shooting. 

During the proceeding, the prosecutor argued that a domestic violence incident, which occurred earlier, was the defendant’s motive along with evidence that her vehicle was in the area near the time of the crime. 

On March 8, a bench trial began with no opening statements made by counsel. A detective of the Baltimore Police Department’s Western District patrol unit testified that on Aug. 28, 2021, he responded to the 9090 block of Valley Street regarding a non-fatal shooting.

At the scene, he said he found shell casings, blood, and destruction of personal property. 

The detective also said the victim was transported to Johns Hopkins hospital, where he interviewed him.

The prosecutor provided several exhibits of surveillance video and requested that the detective explain what was in the video. During his explanation, the detective repeatedly identified a maroon Ford Fusion and an orange car circling the block that the victim had described in his statement. 

According to MVA records, the Ford Fusion was registered to the defendant. 

According to the prosecutor, two phone call, made by the defendant, suggest that she obtained her mother’s gun in order to commit the alleged crime. However, the phone calls did not explicitly identify Lee, nor did they indicate that the defendant actually obtained the firearm. 

During cross-examination, defense attorney Roland Harris argued that there were no witnesses or evidence that proves a shooting occurred on Valley Street. Harris also said the Baltimore Police Department issued an arrest warrant that was only based on the victim’s statement. 

The defense suggested that the victim may have shot himself. 

The last witness called was an officer who responded to a separate incident, involving a domestic violence call which presumably involved the defendant. However, the judge deemed this testimony irrelevant despite arguments from counsel. 

The defense also argued that the prosecutor didn’t prove premeditation or intent to the suspected motive. There is no evidence that she had a weapon nor is there any evidence that she was on the block during the time of the crime, he said.

Harris motioned to dismiss the case considering the lack of evidence that a shooting occurred as well as the involvement of his client.