Defense Investigating Possible Alibi for Alleged Shooter

By Andrew Michaels - May 8, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A 19-year-old shooting defendant may have an alibi, according to his defense counsel, who told Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia H. Jones on May 6 that his client was at work when the alleged shooting occurred.

Defense attorney Donald Wright, who represents Najee Shamaur Sincere Gaylord, informed the court that his client was working at Under Armour in the earlier morning hours of Nov. 25, 2021, when the incident was reported.

Wright said he contacted Gaylord’s employer and is awaiting his client’s employment records.

During Gaylord’s bail review hearing on Friday, Wright said that around 1:00 a.m., there was an argument between multiple women over the fathers of their children.

Other individuals were invited to the address, he said, when there was a knock at the door. The suspect allegedly pulled out a firearm, and fired it into the air.

In addition to three firearms charges, Gaylord is also facing several charges of assault and reckless endangerment.

The defense attorney said his investigation yielded “considerably more facts,” including text messages between the women as well as one man who was not his client. None of these individuals’ names were stated in the statement of probable cause, he said, adding that Gaylord was falsely identified.

The prosecution provided additional details to the court, specifically, that the incident occurred around 1:45 a.m. when there was a fight between four people. There were a total of seven victims and two other witnesses who said Gaylord was holding a firearm, fired it into the air, and then pointed it at them.

After making a request to see the text messages mentioned by the defense, the prosecutor described Gaylord as “a danger to the victims and the community” and asked he be held without bail.

Given no prior convictions, Judge Jones agreed to release Gaylord on private home detention, but said he must have no contact with any of the victims and stay away from the location of the incident.

Any infractions would result in him being held without bail, she said.

Gaylord is scheduled to appear in reception court on Aug. 30.