Domestic Dispute Ends With Shots Fired in 2022 Laplata Avenue Shooting

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Defense counsel in the trial of Joshua Lawrence planted two questions in the minds of the jury on July 28: “Did things really happen the way the victim and the Baltimore Police Department said they did? What else do I want to see or hear before convicting this human being of a crime?”

Following a brief delay due to a lack of jurors, the 32-year-old defendant’s jury trial began late Friday afternoon before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John Howard. Lawrence is charged with first and second-degree attempted murder for allegedly shooting at the mother of his children after an argument on Sept. 28, 2022.

He is also charged with first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a crime of violence, having a loaded handgun on his person and in a vehicle, having a handgun on his person and in a vehicle and discharging firearms.

According to defense attorney Robert Johnson, Lawrence’s case is about an angry ex-girlfriend, referring to the mother of the defendant’s two-year-old toddler. The couple had a four-year relationship that ended a few months before the incident and on the day in question, Lawrence was allegedly late dropping his toddler and his 12-year-old stepdaughter off at the victim’s home on the 4400 block of Laplata Avenue.

“[The victim] no longer has that control over Mr. Lawrence that she once did,” Johnson said, explaining that the victim did not like the defendant being in a new relationship. “In this case, you’re going to have unanswered questions and unfilled holes.”

During his opening statement, the prosecutor told jurors that the defendant not only attacked the victim, but fired the gun while the two children were in the backseat of his car. As the couple argued, Lawrence allegedly hit the victim in the face with his fist multiple times. He then retrieved a gun from his glove compartment, which went off as the defendant and victim were struggling over the weapon.

The prosecution concluded that the jury should expect to hear the 12-year-old girl’s 911 call and testimony during the trial as well as testimony from the victim and a Baltimore Police detective.

Testimony began Friday afternoon and is expected to continue on July 31.