Defendant ‘Showed a Reckless Disregard for Human Life’ in Last Year’s Rec Center Shooting, Prosecutor Says

By Andrew Michaels - January 16, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

“We don’t know why [the defendant] discharged [the gun]. We don’t know who he discharged it at.”

Defense attorney Lawrence Rosenberg spent his final moments with the jury presenting more questions than answers in the case of 19-year-old Trevon Moore in an effort to present reasonable doubt.

Hours earlier, Moore’s trial began before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton as he faced attempted murder, assault and weapons charges for allegedly firing a gun at two victims inside the Roosevelt Park Recreation Center on the 1200 block of West 36th Street on Jan. 24, 2023.

According to Rosenberg, the prosecutor only speculated as to the number of victims and their identities, neither of which were determined during the Baltimore Police Department’s (BPD) investigation. Over the course of the trial, the prosecutor showed video surveillance footage of the shooting, claiming Moore fired one gunshot at two male victims around 3 p.m. in the recreation center’s gym.

“This isn’t a whodunit. This isn’t a mystery of what occurred,” the prosecutor said, playing the video footage that showed the suspect wearing a white tank top and gray sweatpants inside the gym at the time of the shooting. “People are scurrying. People are trying to get out of harm’s way.”

It was Moore’s actions that “showed reckless disregard for human life,” he added.

However, Rosenberg repeatedly questioned the prosecution’s lack of evidence. Despite “all of the [prosecutor’s] power and might,” he said, why did no eyewitnesses testify in court?

Earlier in the day, the jury heard testimony from the Academy of College and Career Exploration’s vice principal, a recreation center employee and a BPD officer and detective.

“We didn’t hear from any victim,” defense counsel continued, although police allegedly spoke with a victim. “Who was he shooting at? …[The prosecution] can speculate and they’re assuming there was someone he was shooting at.”

Following closing arguments, the jury is expected to begin their deliberations on Jan. 12 due to Judge Middleton’s schedule.

Charges against Moore include attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, reckless endangerment, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, discharging firearms and two counts of having a handgun within 100 yards of a public place.

Judge Middleton previously dismissed Moore’s charges of illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition prior to closing arguments.