Homicide Defendant Found Not Guilty of All Charges

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Jurors reached a verdict of not guilty on all counts against a Baltimore man on trial for homicide on Aug. 5 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Phillip S. Jackson.

Tarence Jones, 31, was found not guilty of first-degree murder and using a firearm during a violent crime in connection to the murder of 28-year-old Desmond Williams on June 13, 2021.

According to court documents, Williams was found lying in the foyer of Jones’ home on the 400 block of E. 23rd Street, “suffering from severe wounds with his bowels visibly displayed outside his torso.” He was pronounced dead at the scene. Following an autopsy, the cause of death was determined to be homicide by shooting, specifically with a birdshot shotgun.

Following an autopsy, the cause of death was determined to be homicide by use of a birdshot shotgun.

When interviewed by detectives, Jones claimed he left his apartment with a large black garbage bag. Detectives described the bag seen on video as “consistent with the size and shape of a shotgun” and that Jones “was carrying it in the manner that an individual would hold a shotgun.”

During opening statements, Jones’ defense attorney, Todd Oppenheim, argued that the state had no forensic evidence from the crime scene, and there was no gun found on his client. Jones is known as a working man who does not get into trouble, Oppenheim said.

However, the prosecution bluntly told the jury that Jones was guilty, stating Jones would have had access to the apartment complex because he had signed a lease to rent out a room days before Williams was murdered. The access in connection with the trash bag made Jones an obvious suspect.

Jones’ sister testified that Jones was not a violent person. He was a working man and she felt safe leaving Jones with her children. She said that he was not at her home the morning of the crime.