Victim Was High, Charged at Defendant Before He Was Fatally Shot, Defense Says

By Andrew Michaels , Alyssia Davis [former] - March 27, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On a late October evening in 2021, 33-year-old DuJuan Murray went to Baltimore City’s Hamilton Hills neighborhood to confront a man over the treatment of the former’s son. Less than an hour later, Murray was fatally shot.

Homicide defendant Troy Peace appeared in Baltimore City Circuit Court to face murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and weapons charges in March 2023 and was later found not guilty of all charges, except firearm possession with a felony conviction, on March 24.

Judge Cynthia Jones presided over the trial, with the defendant’s sentencing scheduled for June 7.

During his closing arguments the day before, defense attorney Jason Silverstein told jurors that the 34-year-old defendant was defending himself that evening on the 6600 block of Snowberry Court on Oct. 16, 2021. He reminded jurors that witnesses’ testified that Murray went to the home of his child’s mother and was angry that someone drew on the child’s face.

Murray angrily confronted Peace, who he found in a bed, sleeping. After Peace told Murray that he did not draw on the child’s face, Silverstein continued. The two began to argue and then physically fight one another before Peace began running away.

A witness previously testified that Peace shot Murray when the victim began charging at the defendant.

“Peace fired the gun to protect himself, his girlfriend, and the house from someone who was high and angry,” Silverstein said, noting that the victim had alcohol, opioid, and fentanyl in his system. “This man did not plan to hurt or kill [the victim].”

Although he described the case as “difficult,” the prosecutor told the jury that it was straightforward. The prosecutor reviewed witness testimony that Peace pulled a gun from his bag before firing at the victim and that Murray was shot from a distance.

Additionally, Peace claimed his actions were in self-defense, yet, he drove away from Baltimore Police and wrapped up his gun to toss it away, he said.

“You can get a clear picture of [the defendant] from his actions,” the prosecutor said.