Victim Reported Shooting Weeks After Incident, Defense Says in Cliftview Avenue Non-Fatal Shooting Case

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A Baltimore City prosecutor argued that the victim specifically identified 30-year-old Courtney Sykes as the woman who attempted to shoot her in May 2022.

Sykes is currently facing multiple attempted murder, assault, and weapons charges in connection to the shooting on May 13, 2022, on the 1300 block of Cliftview Avenue.

“This is not going to be a long trial, but this is going to be an important trial,” the prosecutor told the jury on Feb. 13, following a quick jury selection before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Althea Handy.

According to the prosecutor’s opening statement, the defendant and victim had a dispute that escalated on the morning of the shooting. Sykes allegedly fired a gun at the victim, who was not hit, and reported the incident a week later.

However, the evidence will tell a different story, said defense attorney Matthew Connell. After the incident, he explained, Sykes went to a Baltimore Police station and told them Sykes tried to kill her and that it happened two weeks ago. Yet, the evidence in the case is lacking, with little to no evidence of guns, shell casings, bullet holes, or bullets recovered.

The trial proceeded with testimony shortly after opening statements.