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By
Hannah Rainer [former]
- December 19, 2023
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On Dec. 15, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Myshala E. Middleton heard closing arguments in the case of a man accused of a November 2022 murder.
Keith Mario Luckey, 40, is charged with second-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, the use of an assault weapon and a magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds and reckless endangerment in connection to the death of 35-year-old Kevin Guerrero in 2022.
“One of the first things I told you during opening statements was that the defendant killed not out of fear, but out of anger,” said the prosecutor.
Explaining the events from the night of the crime by using video surveillance as a guide, the prosecution reminded the jury Luckey had several chances to deescalate and leave the scene, but that he chose to act aggressively instead. In addition, the prosecution statedt Luckey was not a police officer, but a security guard, which gave him no legal status to take another person’s life.
“This is an impulsive act of anger,” they concluded.
Defense attorney Lawrence Rosenberg said the prosecution left reasonable doubt. He asked why the prosecution did not present several witnesses who were at the club that night, as well as pointing out the fact that Luckey was simply doing his job as a security guard.
“Understand that the time frame is just seconds, even less, which is not enough time to form intent,” Rosenberg stated.
“Reasonable doubts? I didn’t hear a single one,” the prosecution rebutted.
According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to the 3900 block of East Lombard Street after hearing a round of gunshots.
The officers found Guerrero, lying on the ground, bleeding from a gunshot wound to his chest. He was later transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. Witnesses told police that a security guard working at the ChrisT Bar shot him.
Luckey told police he shot Guerrero in self-defense as he had thrown a brick at him. Officers found surveillance footage of the fight, which showed Luckey firing as Guerrero was about to throw another brick. Officers then located Luckey’s gun, allegedly finding an illegal amount of ammunition. Luckey was later arrested and charged with Guerrero’s death.