20-Year-Old Man Acquitted of Attempted Murder Charges

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A minor traffic accident that could have been resolved peacefully ended with gun violence, an assistant state’s attorney shared with the jury on Dec. 14 during the attempted murder trial of Jamal McDaniel.

McDaniel, 20, was charged with multiple counts of attempted murder, assault, and two weapons charges. On Dec. 15, he was found not guilty of attempted murder but was convicted of first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, and firearm possession with a felony conviction before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Philip Jackson.

The defendant is scheduled for sentencing on April 7.

During his closing arguments, the prosecutor explained that the incident began when the victim’s vehicle sideswiped McDaniel’s vehicle. After both individuals got out of their vehicles, there was an exchange of words as the defendant pointed to where the damage was on his vehicle.

“Whatever [the victim] said triggered the defendant into using the trigger,” after the latter retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and fired eight gunshots, the prosecutor said.

“You can’t do this in society,” he added, reminding the jury of the video evidence that showed the shooting as well as the Baltimore Police Department’s investigation into McDaniel’s whereabouts before, during, and after the shooting.

Defense attorney Natalie Finegar expressed her skepticism of the police’s investigation, specifically officers’ reports and recollection of crucial information such as the make of the defendant’s vehicle, the defendant’s identification, and conversations with the defendant.

“The video [of the incident] is so narrow and so limited,” Finegar continued, “that you actually can’t get a good look at it.”