Jury Finds Murder Defendant Guilty After DNA Links Him to Crime Scene

By Massiel Morales [former] , Hannah Sawickey [former] - July 10, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Gilbert Della has been found guilty of all charges including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, two counts of use of a firearm during violent crime and carrying a loaded handgun after a four-day trial and jury deliberations on July 7 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Paul E. Alpert.

Della, 27, was one of the two shooters who allegedly shot victim Ikeem Issac on Jan. 1, 2019, on the 4900 block of Frederick Avenue. 

Evidence was recovered from the crime scene where forensic biologists swabbed parts of the street, a Minute Maid bottle, a sweatshirt, cell phone, and an area where blood was found as well as collecting and swabbing samples that were requested by officers.

The DNA of the defendant was found on a cellphone and sweatshirt, and the forensic biologist confirmed that the defendant was a major source of DNA.  

A Baltimore City detective was called by the prosecutor testified about his findings from the crime scene and the witnesses he interviewed that day. The detective found surveillance video footage of the evidence from 12 cameras. The witness he interviewed the day of the incident was the victim’s girlfriend who said she was with Della when the shooting occurred and later identified Della as the shooter. 

However, defense attorneys Jonathan Kerr and Megan Lewis questioned why only six out of 12 cameras were used to pull footage of the incident. They also questioned the reliability and consistency of the victim’s girlfriend’s testimony at the police station because she kept going back and forth between identifying the shooter and not seeing him at all.

Della’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 14.