Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Help us continue our mission into 2025 by donating to our end of year campaign.
By
Kaliah Green [former]
- September 7, 2023
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Homicides
|
Shooting
|
Suspects
|
Victims
|
On Sept. 6, Baltimore City Circuit Judge Melissa M. Phinn continued a hearing for two defendants, Daquan Hawks and Leonard Joyner, charged with first-degree murder.
Hawks, 20, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of firearm use in felony violent crime, attempted first-degree murder, having a loaded handgun in his vehicle, having a loaded handgun on his person and possession of a firearm as a minor.
Joyner, 31, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, attempted first-degree murder and having a loaded handgun in his vehicle.
The prosecution informed the court of the plea offer for both men, which was life, suspending all but 60 years, with five years of supervised probation for first-degree murder. Both Hawks and Joyner rejected this plea.
Joyner’s defense, Latoya Francis-Williams, stated that they were “ready for trial,” however the prosecution requested a postponement. Due to the prosecution not being prepared, Francis-Williams objected to the postponement and asked that “the state be admonished for not being ready.” Judge Phinn agreed, however, the case was just continued.
Judge Phinn set Joyner’s next hearing on Oct. 2 for scheduling. Hawks and his attorney, Karyn Meriwether, are scheduled to appear in reception court on Oct. 24.
According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on Jan. 24, 2022, on the 2000 block of Ruskin Avenue, there was a shootout between multiple men. When Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers arrived they found a victim, Donte Lee, 28, with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. He was then transported to the hospital and pronounced dead.
Through video investigation and witness statements, one suspect, later identified as Hawks, was observed fleeing the scene into a gray vehicle. Joyner admitted to picking his friend, Hawks, up and driving him to the hospital.